BDK English Tripiṭaka Series

THE VAIROCANĀBHISAṂBODHI
SUTRA

Translated from the Chinese

(Taishō Volume 18, Number 848)

by

Rolf W. Giebel

Numata Center
for Buddhist Translation and Research
2005
 © 2005 by Bukkyō Dendō Kyōkai and
Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored

in a retrieval system, or transcribed in any form or by any means
—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—
without the prior written permission of the publisher.

First Printing, 2005

ISBN: 978-886439-32-0
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2005934739

Published by
Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research
2620 Warring Street
Berkeley, California 94704

Printed in the United States of America

 A Message on the Publication of the
English Tripiṭaka

The Buddhist canon is said to contain eighty-four thousand different teachings.

I believe that this is because the Buddha’s basic approach was to prescribe a
different treatment for every spiritual ailment, much as a doctor prescribes a
different medicine for every medical ailment. Thus his teachings were always
appropriate for the particular suffering individual and for the time at which the
teaching was given, and over the ages not one of his prescriptions has failed to
relieve the suffering to which it was addressed.
Ever since the Buddha’s Great Demise over twenty-five hundred years ago,
his message of wisdom and compassion has spread throughout the world. Yet
no one has ever attempted to translate the entire Buddhist canon into English
throughout the history of Japan. It is my greatest wish to see this done and to
make the translations available to the many English-speaking people who have
never had the opportunity to learn about the Buddha’s teachings.
Of course, it would be impossible to translate all of the Buddha’s eighty-
four thousand teachings in a few years. I have, therefore, had one hundred thirty-
nine of the scriptural texts in the prodigious Taishō edition of the Chinese Buddhist
canon selected for inclusion in the First Series of this translation project.
It is in the nature of this undertaking that the results are bound to be criti-
cized. Nonetheless, I am convinced that unless someone takes it upon himself
or herself to initiate this project, it will never be done. At the same time, I hope
that an improved, revised edition will appear in the future.
It is most gratifying that, thanks to the efforts of more than a hundred
Buddhist scholars from the East and the West, this monumental project has
finally gotten off the ground. May the rays of the Wisdom of the Compassion-
ate One reach each and every person in the world.

NUMATA Yehan
Founder of the English
August 7, 1991 Tripiṭaka Project

v
 Editorial Foreword
In January 1982, Dr. NUMATA Yehan, the founder of the Bukkyō Dendō Kyōkai
(Society for the Promotion of Buddhism), decided to begin the monumental
task of translating the complete Taishō edition of the Chinese Tripiṭaka (Buddhist
canon) into the English language. Under his leadership, a special preparatory
committee was organized in April 1982. By July of the same year, the Transla-
tion Committee of the English Tripiṭaka was officially convened.
The initial Committee consisted of the following members: (late) HANAYAMA
Shōyū (Chairperson), (late) BANDŌ Shōjun, ISHIGAMI Zennō, (late) KAMATA
Shigeo, KANAOKA Shūyū, MAYEDA Sengaku, NARA Yasuaki, (late) SAYEKI
Shinkō, (late) SHIOIRI Ryōtatsu, TAMARU Noriyoshi, (late) TAMURA Kwansei,
URYŪZU Ryūshin, and YUYAMA Akira. Assistant members of the Committee
were as follows: KANAZAWA Atsushi, WATANABE Shōgo, Rolf Giebel of New
Zealand, and Rudy Smet of Belgium.
After holding planning meetings on a monthly basis, the Committee selected
one hundred thirty-nine texts for the First Series of translations, an estimated
one hundred printed volumes in all. The texts selected are not necessarily lim-
ited to those originally written in India but also include works written or com-
posed in China and Japan. While the publication of the First Series proceeds,
the texts for the Second Series will be selected from among the remaining works;
this process will continue until all the texts, in Japanese as well as in Chinese,
have been published.
Frankly speaking, it will take perhaps one hundred years or more to accom-
plish the English translation of the complete Chinese and Japanese texts, for
they consist of thousands of works. Nevertheless, as Dr. NUMATA wished, it is
the sincere hope of the Committee that this project will continue unto comple-
tion, even after all its present members have passed away.
It must be mentioned here that the final object of this project is not aca-
demic fulfillment but the transmission of the teaching of the
Buddha to the whole world in order to create harmony and peace among
humankind. To that end, the translators have been asked to minimize the use of

vii
Editorial Foreword

explanatory notes of the kind that are indispensable in academic texts, so that the
attention of general readers will not be unduly distracted from the primary text.
Also, a glossary of selected terms is appended to aid in understanding the text.
To my great regret, however, Dr. NUMATA passed away on May 5, 1994, at
the age of ninety-seven, entrusting his son, Mr. NUMATA Toshihide, with the con-
tinuation and completion of the Translation Project. The Committee also lost its
able and devoted Chairperson, Professor HANAYAMA Shōyū, on June 16, 1995,
at the age of sixty-three. After these severe blows, the Committee elected me,
then Vice President of Musashino Women’s College, to be the Chair in October
1995. The Committee has renewed its determination to carry out the noble inten-
tion of Dr. NUMATA, under the leadership of Mr. NUMATA Toshihide.
The present members of the Committee are MAYEDA Sengaku (Chairper-
son), ISHIGAMI Zennō, ICHISHIMA Shōshin, KANAOKA Shūyū, NARA Yasuaki,
TAMARU Noriyoshi, URYŪZU Ryūshin, YUYAMA Akira, Kenneth K. Tanaka,
WATANABE Shōgo, and assistant member YONEZAWA Yoshiyasu.
The Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research was established
in November 1984, in Berkeley, California, U.S.A., to assist in the publication
of the BDK English Tripiṭaka First Series. In December 1991, the Publication
Committee was organized at the Numata Center, with Professor Philip Yam-
polsky as the Chairperson. To our sorrow, Professor Yampolsky passed away
in July 1996. In February 1997, Dr. Kenneth K. Inada became Chair and served
in that capacity until August 1999. The current Chair, Dr. Francis H. Cook, has
been continuing the work since October 1999. All of the remaining texts will
be published under the supervision of this Committee, in close cooperation with
the Editorial Committee in Tokyo.

MAYEDA Sengaku
Chairperson
Editorial Committee of
the BDK English Tripiṭaka

viii
 Publisher’s Foreword
The Publication Committee shares with the Editorial Committee the responsi-
bility of realizing the vision of Dr. Yehan Numata, founder of Bukkyō Dendō
Kyōkai, the Society for the Promotion of Buddhism. This vision is no less than
to make the Buddha’s teaching better known throughout the world, through the
translation and publication in English of the entire collection of Buddhist texts
compiled in the Taishō Shinshū Daizōkyō, published in Tokyo in the early part
of the twentieth century. This huge task is expected to be carried out by several
generations of translators and may take as long as a hundred years to complete.
Ultimately, the entire canon will be available to anyone who can read English
and who wishes to learn more about the teaching of the Buddha.
The present generation of staff members of the Publication Committee
includes Marianne Dresser; Reverend Brian Nagata, president of the Numata
Center for Buddhist Translation and Research, Berkeley, California; Eisho Nasu;
and Reverend Kiyoshi Yamashita. The Publication Committee is headquartered
at the Numata Center and, working in close cooperation with the Editorial Com-
mittee, is responsible for the usual tasks associated with preparing translations
for publication.
In October 1999, I became the third chairperson of the Publication Com-
mittee, on the retirement of its very capable former chair, Dr. Kenneth K. Inada.
The Committee is devoted to the advancement of the Buddha’s teaching through
the publication of excellent translations of the thousands of texts that make up
the Buddhist canon.

Francis H. Cook
Chairperson
Publication Committee

ix
 Contents

A Message on the Publication of the English Tripiṭaka

NUMATA Yehan v

Editorial Foreword MAYEDA Sengaku vii

Publisher’s Foreword Francis H. Cook ix

Translator’s Introduction Rolf W. Giebel xiii

The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

Fascicle One
Chapter I. The Stations of the Mind When Entering the Mantra Gateway 3
Chapter II. Full Accoutrements and Mantras for Entering the Maṇḍala 17
Fascicle Two
Chapter II (continued). Full Accoutrements and Mantras for Entering
the Maṇḍala 39
Chapter III. The Quelling of Obstacles 55
Chapter IV. A Treasury of Mantras in Common Use 59
Fascicle Three
Chapter V. Mundane Accomplishment 69
Chapter VI. The Manifestation of Siddhi 71
Chapter VII. The Accomplishing of Siddhi 89
Chapter VIII. Maṇḍala Practices for the Revolving Wheel of Letters 93
Fascicle Four
Chapter IX. Mystic Seals 101
Fascicle Five
Chapter X. The Wheel of Letters 119
Chapter XI. The Secret Maṇḍala 123
Chapter XII. The Ritual for Entering the Secret Maṇḍala 145
Chapter XIII. Entry to the Station of the Secret Maṇḍala 147
Chapter XIV. The Eight Secret Seals 151

xi
Contents

Chapter XV. The Prohibitory Precepts for Reciting Vidyās 155

Chapter XVI. The True Knowledge of the Ācārya 159
Chapter XVII. The Allocation of the Letters 163
Fascicle Six
Chapter XVIII. Receiving the Code of Training with Expedient Means 165
Chapter XIX. The Exposition of the Arising of the Hundred Letters 171
Chapter XX. Intercorrespondence with the Fruit of the
Hundred Letters 173
Chapter XXI. The Accomplishment of the Station of the
Hundred Letters 175
Chapter XXII. Recitation for the Accomplishment of the
Hundred Letters 179
Chapter XXIII. The Mantra Method for the Hundred Letters 183
Chapter XXIV. The Exposition of the Nature of Bodhi 185
Chapter XXV. The Three Samayas 187
Chapter XXVI. The Exposition of “Tathāgata” 189
Chapter XXVII. The Mundane and Supramundane Homa Rituals 191
Chapter XXVIII. The Exposition of Deity Samādhi 197
Chapter XXIX. The Exposition of Samādhi without Characteristics 199
Chapter XXX. Mundane and Supramundane Recitation 201
Chapter XXXI. The Entrustment 203
Fascicle Seven
Chapter I. The Code of Training for Mantra Practice among the
Procedural Rules for Worship 205
Chapter II. The Increasing and Guarding of Pure Conduct 211
Chapter III. The Worship Ritual 219
Chapter IV. The Rules for Recitation 233
Chapter V. Mantra Deeds 243

Notes 251

Bibliography 263

Glossary 265

Index 273

A List of the Volumes of the BDK English Tripiṭaka (First Series) 293

xii
 Translator’s Introduction

The Text

The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi-sūtra was a seminal work in the history of Tantric

Buddhism, offering one of the first fully developed expositions of this form of
Buddhism. In India and Tibet it came to be classified as a Caryā Tantra, or “Prac-
tice Tantra,” corresponding to the second category of what was to become in
Tibet the standard fourfold classification of Buddhist tantras, only to be even-
tually superseded to a large degree by the Sarvatathāgatatattvasaṃgraha and
the large body of literature spawned by this latter text (corresponding to the
Yoga and Anuttarayoga Tantras). In East Asia, on the other hand, the Vairocanā-
bhisaṃbodhi-sūtra has remained together with the Sarvatathāgatatattvasaṃgraha
one of the two basic texts of Esoteric Buddhism and could indeed be said to
have been the more influential of the two. (A translation of the Sarvatathāgata-
tattvasaṃgraha, under the title Adamantine Pinnacle Sutra, appears in the vol-
ume Two Esoteric Sutras, Numata Center, 2001.)
To date no manuscript of the original Sanskrit text of the Vairocanābhi-
saṃbodhi-sūtra has been discovered (although a number of passages are either
quoted in other Sanskrit works or preserved in Chinese transcription), but it was
translated into Chinese (Taishō no. 848) and Tibetan (Peking no. 126). The San-
skrit title preserved in the Tibetan translation is Mahāvairocanābhisaṃbodhi-
vikurvitādhiṣṭhāna-vaipulyasūtrendrarāja-nāma-dharmaparyāya (Dharma Dis-
course Called “Mahāvairocana’s Enlightenment, Miracles, and Empowerment,”
King of the Best of the Extensive Scriptures). The title of the Chinese version,
on the other hand, may be translated as “Scripture of the Enlightenment, Super-
natural Transformations, and Empowerment of Mahāvairocana,” but the Chi-
nese commentary informs us that the full title included the words Mahāvaipulya-
sūtrendrarāja, which tallies closely with the title preserved in the Tibetan
translation. (The term vaipulya-sūtra, or “extensive scripture,” is a common

xiii
Translator’s Introduction

designation of Mahayana sutras.) Buddhaguhya, its chief commentator in India,

meanwhile, refers to it as a tantra, and Sanskrit texts generally cite it simply as
Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi or Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi-tantra. Since the Chinese
translator Śubhākarasiṃha does not use the word tantra (and although it is
widely known as the Mahāvairocana-sūtra), it will hereafter be referred to as
the Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi-sūtra.
The Chinese translation was produced in seven fascicles by Śubhākara-
siṃha (637–735) and his Chinese disciple Yixing (683–727) in 724–5, appar-
ently on the basis of a manuscript sent to China some decades earlier by the
Chinese monk Wuxing, who died in India in 674. Strictly speaking, it is only
the first six fascicles in thirty-one chapters that correspond to the Vairocanābhi-
saṃbodhi-sūtra proper, with Fascicle Seven (in five chapters) constituting a rit-
ual manual that is preserved as a separate work in the Tibetan canon (Peking
no. 3488). The Tibetan translation, on the other hand, was produced almost a
century later in the early ninth century by Śīlendrabodhi and dPal-brtsegs, and
in addition to the base text in twenty-nine chapters it includes a “Continuation
Tantra” (Uttara-tantra) in seven chapters not found in the Chinese version. It
is evident that during the intervening period the text had undergone some reor-
ganization, for Chapters XXVIII–XXX of the Chinese translation have become
Chapters VII–IX in the Tibetan translation and Chapters VI–VII and Chapters
XXVII and XXXI in the Chinese translation have been combined into single
chapters in the Tibetan translation (becoming Chapters VI and XXIX respec-
tively), while the order of Chapters XIII and XIV has been reversed (becom-
ing Chapters XVI and XV in the Tibetan translation). But apart from these for-
mal differences, the Chinese and Tibetan versions of the base text tally fairly
closely with one another.
As well as translating the Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi-sūtra, Śubhākarasiṃha
and Yixing also produced a twenty-fascicle commentary (Taishō no. 1796) on
the first six fascicles of their translation. (In the notes added to the English trans-
lation, this text is referred to as the “Chinese commentary.”) After Yixing’s
death in 727, this was revised by some of his colleagues and redivided into four-
teen fascicles. In addition, the Korean monk Bukesiyi, another of Śubhā-
karasiṃha’s disciples, composed a two-fascicle commentary on the final sev-
enth fascicle of the Chinese version of the Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi-sūtra (Taishō
no. 1797). The Chinese canon also preserves a separate, somewhat abridged

xiv
 Translator’s Introduction

version of the ritual manual constituting Fascicle Seven (Taishō no. 849), the
translation of which is attributed to Bodhivajra (i.e., Vajrabodhi [671–741]),
although this attribution is questionable. It is interesting to note that just as there
exist two versions of Śubhākarasiṃha’s and Yixing’s commentary, so too are
there an unrevised version and revised version of the Tibetan translation of Buddha-
guhya’s commentary (Peking nos. 3487 and 3490), which is thought to have
been originally composed sometime around 760. Buddhaguhya also wrote a
condensed commentary on the Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi-sūtra (Peking no. 3486).
The Chinese canon further contains four lengthy ritual manuals associated
with the Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi-sūtra (Taishō nos. 850–3), as well as several
shorter ones, and there subsequently developed in Japan a vast corpus of com-
mentarial literature (not to mention a subcommentary by eleventh-century
Jueyuan of the Liao dynasty). This exegetical activity has continued down to
the present day, and there now exists a large body of scholarly research on the
Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi-sūtra, albeit largely in Japanese. The chief publications
in Western languages are listed in the Bibliography (p. 291).

Contents

For the most part, the Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi-sūtra takes the form of a dialogue
between Vajrapāṇi and the Buddha Vairocana. Vajrapāṇi begins in Chapter I by
asking the Buddha how he obtained “the knowledge of an omniscient one” (sar-
vajñajñāna), or perfect enlightenment, and what its cause (hetu), root (mūla),
and culmination or final outcome (paryavasāna) are, to which the Buddha
replies, “The bodhi-mind (bodhicitta) is its cause, compassion (karuṇā) is its
root, and expedient means (upāya) is its culmination.” These three propositions
are considered to encapsulate the essence of the entire sutra, and the rest of the
Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi-sūtra could be regarded as an elaboration of their var-
ious ramifications.
The remainder of Chapter I deals in particular with the bodhi-mind in its
twin aspects of the aspiration for enlightenment and the mind whose intrinsic
nature is enlightenment. This is the most theoretical portion of the sutra, differ-
ing little from a standard Mahayana sutra, and it also describes some traditional
Mahayana methods for observing the nature of the mind. The remaining chap-
ters of the sutra proper then go on to deal in detail with various practices that are
more specifically “Tantric” in character, and these include the construction of a

xv
Translator’s Introduction

maṇḍala, initiation rites, mantra recitation, ritual hand gestures or “seals”

(mudrās), and visualization techniques. There is also a chapter on the ten pre-
cepts, common to most forms of Buddhism.
As regards the maṇḍala, it might be noted that the Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi-
sūtra describes three forms of the main maṇḍala, the full name of which is
“Maṇḍala Born of the Matrix of Great Compassion” (*Mahākaruṇāgarbhod-
bhava-maṇḍala): in the maṇḍala described in Chapter II the deities are repre-
sented by their physical forms, in Chapter VIII by their seed-syllables, and in
Chapter XI by their symbolic objects, and there are also some differences in the
layout of the maṇḍala as well. Originally the maṇḍala would have generally
been laid out on the ground in a specially prepared site for the purposes of ini-
tiation, rather than being drawn on cloth or paper, as later became the norm in
East Asia, but pictorial representations preserved in Tibet, with one hundred
and twenty-two deities, follow the description given in Chapter II fairly closely.
In China, on the other hand, several versions developed, starting with that
described in the Chinese commentary, an enormous maṇḍala of four hundred
and eighty-four deities (or more than seven hundred if one includes the atten-
dant deities). The form most prevalent in Japan today, with more than four hun-
dred deities, is thought to have originated in China in the late eighth century
and was first introduced to Japan by Kūkai (774–835) in 806.
The author(s) of the Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi-sūtra clearly drew on a num-
ber of earlier works, and it is perhaps partly for this reason that there is some
duplication in the content of some of the chapters. It is therefore fortunate that
a ritual manual has been appended to the Chinese translation of the sutra proper,
for this shows how the various practices described in the Vairocanābhisaṃ-
bodhi-sūtra were integrated both into a coherent whole and into the daily life
of the practitioner. Taken as a whole, the Chinese translation of the Vairocanā-
bhisaṃbodhi-sūtra thus provides an excellent overall picture of the theory and
practice of Indian Tantric Buddhism in the mid- to late seventh century.

A Note on the Translation

In the English translation presented here, the aim has been to be as faithful as
possible to the Chinese translation as preserved in the Taishō edition (vol. 18,
no. 848), which means that when Śubhākarasiṃha and Yixing translate, I gen-
erally also translate, and when they transliterate, I generally also transliterate.

xvi
 Translator’s Introduction

There are several exceptions to this, one being the treatment of proper nouns,
for which, on account of their large number, only the Sanskrit form is given,
even though they are usually translated into Chinese in the original.
In accordance with the editorial policy of this translation series, the notes
have in the main been confined to points having a direct bearing on the inter-
pretation of the text, and no attempt has been made to point out differences
between the Chinese and Tibetan translations or differences of interpretation
between the Chinese and Indo-Tibetan commentaries. The mantras have been
assigned serial numbers (given in brackets) to facilitate cross-referencing and
are provisionally translated on first appearance. Parentheses and brackets enclose
additions by the translator, while passages in italics inside angle brackets (< >)
represent explanatory interpolations in the original (where they appear as half-
sized, two-column text).

xvii
THE SCRIPTURE OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT,
SUPERNATURAL TRANSFORMATIONS, AND
EMPOWERMENT OF MAHĀVAIROCANA

Translated by

Śubhākarasiṃha, the Tripiṭaka Master from India,

together with the Śramaṇa Yixing
during the Greater Tang
 Fascicle One

Chapter I

The Stations of the Mind When

Entering the Mantra Gateway

Thus have I heard. At one time the Bhagavān (Lord) was residing in the vast 1a7
adamantine palace of the Dharma realm empowered by Tathāgatas, in which
all the vajradharas had all assembled; the great pavilion [comparable to] the
king of jewels, born of the Tathāgata’s faith-and-understanding, play, and
supernatural transformations, was lofty, without a center or perimeter, and
variously adorned with great and wondrous jewel-kings, and the body of a
bodhisattva formed a lion throne.1
Those vajra[dhara]s were called the vajradhara Gaganāmala, the vajra-
dhara Gaganavikrama, the vajradhara Gaganasaṃbhava, the vajradhara
Vicitrāmbaradhara, the vajradhara Vicitracārin, the vajradhara Sarvadharma-
samatāvihārin, the vajradhara Anantasattvadhātuparitrāṇa, the vajradhara
Nārāyaṇabalin, the vajradhara Mahānārāyaṇabalin, Suvajradhara, the vajra-
dhara Paramavega, the vajradhara Vimala[vajra], the vajradhara Vajrāgra,
the vajradhara Tathāgatavarman, the vajradhara Tathāgatapadodbhava, the
vajradhara Aprapañcavihārin, the vajradhara Tathāgatadaśabalasaṃbhava,
the vajradhara Vimalanetra, and Vajrapāṇi, Lord of Mysteries.2
Accompanied by a multitude of vajradharas equal in number to the dust
motes of ten buddha fields with these at their head, and surrounded in front
and behind by great bodhisattvas such as the bodhisattva Samantabhadra,
the bodhisattva Maitreya, the bodhisattva Mañjuśrī, and the bodhisattva Sar-
vanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin, [the Bhagavān] expounded the Dharma, namely, the
Dharma gateway of the state of the equality of body, speech, and mind,

3
 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

through the empowerment of the Tathāgata’s sun which transcends the three
periods [of past, present, and future].
Then, with the bodhisattvas headed by Samantabhadra and the vajra-
dharas headed by the Lord of Mysteries, through the empowerment of the
Tathāgata Vairocana there was swiftly made manifest the inexhaustible treas-
ury of adornments [of the equality] of the body; likewise, there were swiftly
made manifest the inexhaustible treasuries of adornments of the equality of
speech and mind. These were not produced by the body or speech or mind
of the Buddha Vairocana, and the limits of their arising and disappearing in
all places cannot be apprehended. Yet all the actions of Vairocana’s body,
1b all the actions of his speech, and all the actions of his mind proclaim every-
where and always in the realms of sentient beings the Dharma of the words
of the mantra path. Moreover, he assumed the appearance of vajradharas
and the bodhisattvas Samantabhadra, Padmapāṇi, and so on, and proclaimed
everywhere in the ten directions the Dharma of the pure words of the mantra
path so that [all the steps from] the initial generation of the [bodhi-]mind up
to the ten stages may be progressively satisfied in this lifetime, the seeds of
the karmic[ally determined] lives of the varieties of sentient beings who have
been born and nurtured by karma may be eradicated, and there may also
occur the sprouting of [wholesome] seeds.
Then the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries, who was seated in this assem-
bly, said to the Buddha, “World-honored One, how did the Tathāgata, wor-
thy of worship (arhat) and perfectly all-knowing (samyaksaṃbuddha), obtain
the knowledge of an omniscient one (sarvajñajñāna)? Having obtained the
knowledge of an omniscient one, he expounds it extensively and dissemi-
nates it for the sake of immeasurable beings, proclaiming the knowledge of
an omniscient one in accordance with various destinies, various inclinations,
and various means and ways, [teaching] either the path of the śrāvaka vehi-
cle, or the path of the pratyekabuddha vehicle, or the path of the Great Vehi-
cle (Mahayana), or the path of knowledge of the five [supernatural] facul-
ties, or [the method for] aspiring to birth among gods (devas), or [the methods
for] birth among humans or as a nāga, yakṣa, or gandharva through to teach-
ing the method for birth as a mahoraga. Should there be any being who ought
to be delivered by a buddha, then [the Tathāgata] assumes the form of a
buddha; alternatively, he may assume the form of a śrāvaka, or he may assume

4
 Fascicle One

the form of a pratyekabuddha or the form of a bodhisattva or the form of the

god Brahmā or the form of Nārāyaṇa or Vaiśravaṇa, through to the form of
a mahoraga, a human, a non-human, and so on, conforming with the speech
of each and abiding in various modes of conduct. And yet this path of the
knowledge of an omniscient one is of one taste, namely, the taste of the Tathā-
gata’s liberation.
“World-honored One, just as, for example, the element of empty space
is free from all differentiation, without differentiation and without nondif-
ferentiation, so too is the knowledge of an omniscient one free from all dif-
ferentiation, without differentiation and without nondifferentiation. World-
honored One, just as, for example, the great earth is the support of all beings,
so too is the knowledge of an omniscient one the support of gods, humans,
and asuras. World-honored One, just as, for example, the element of fire
insatiably burns all fuel, so too does the knowledge of an omniscient one
insatiably burn all the fuel of ignorance. World-honored One, just as, for
example, the element of wind removes all dust, so too does the knowledge
of an omniscient one clear away all the dust of mental afflictions. World-
honored One, just as, for example, the element of water is a delight for the
support (i.e., bodies) of all beings, so too is the knowledge of an omniscient
one a benefit and joy for gods and worldlings. World-honored One, what is
the cause, what is the root, and what is the culmination of this knowledge?”
When the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries had finished speaking thus, the
Buddha Vairocana addressed him, saying, “Excellent, excellent, vajradhara!
It is excellent, Vajrapāṇi, that you have asked me about this matter. You
should listen attentively and pay very careful attention as I now explain it.”
Vajrapāṇi said, “So be it, World-honored One. I am eager to listen.”
The Buddha said, “The bodhi-mind is its cause, compassion is its root, 1c
and expedient means is its culmination. Lord of Mysteries, what is bodhi?
It means to know one’s mind as it really is. Lord of Mysteries, this is anut-
tarā samyaksaṃbodhi (unsurpassed, perfect, and full awakening), and there
is not the slightest part of it that can be apprehended. Why? [Because] bodhi
has the characteristic of empty space, and there is no one to comprehend it,
nor is there any understanding of it. Why? Because bodhi has no [differen-
tiating] characteristics. Lord of Mysteries, all dharmas are without charac-
teristics. That is to say, they have the characteristic of empty space.”

5
The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

Then Vajrapāṇi again said to the Buddha, “World-honored One, who is

it that seeks omniscience? Who is it that accomplishes perfect awakening
on account of bodhi? Who is it that generates the knowledge of an omnis-
cient one?”
The Buddha said, “Lord of Mysteries, it is in one’s own mind that one
seeks bodhi and omniscience. Why? Because its original nature is pure. The
mind is neither within nor without, nor can the mind be apprehended between
the two. Lord of Mysteries, the Tathāgata, worthy [of worship] and perfectly
and fully awakened, is neither blue nor yellow nor red nor white nor crim-
son nor the color of crystal, neither long nor short nor round nor square, nei-
ther bright nor dark, and neither male nor female nor neuter. Lord of Mys-
teries, the mind is not of the same nature as the realm of desire, nor is it of
the same nature as the realm of form, nor is it of the same nature as the realm
of non-form, nor is it of the same nature as the destinies of gods, nāgas,
yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kiṃnaras, mahoragas, humans, or
non-humans. Lord of Mysteries, the mind does not reside in the realm of the
eyes, nor does it reside in the realms of the ears, nose, tongue, body, or mind,
and neither is it visible, nor does it manifest itself.
“Why? [Because] the mind, which has the characteristic of empty space,
is free from all differentiation and nondifferentiation. Why is that? That
whose nature is the same as empty space is identical to the mind, and that
whose nature is the same as the mind is identical to bodhi. In this manner,
Lord of Mysteries, the three entities of mind, the realm of empty space, and
bodhi are without duality. They have compassion as their root and are fulfilled
by the pāramitā of expedient means. For this reason, Lord of Mysteries, I
teach the dharmas in this manner so as to make the multitudes of bodhi-
sattvas purify the bodhi-mind and know their mind.
“Lord of Mysteries, if a man of [good] family or a woman of [good]
family wishes to know bodhi, they should know their own mind in this man-
ner. Lord of Mysteries, how is one to know one’s own mind? It cannot,
namely, be apprehended by seeking it in distinctions, or colors, or shapes,
or external objects; or in form or sensation, ideation, volition, or conscious-
ness; or in ‘I’ or ‘mine’; or in the grasper (i.e., subject) or the grasped (i.e.,
object); or in the pure; or in the [eighteen] elements [of existence] or [the
twelve] sense fields; or in any other distinctions.

6
 Fascicle One

“Lord of Mysteries, this gateway to the bodhisattva’s pure bodhi-mind

is called the path whereby the Dharma becomes clear for the first time. If a
bodhisattva trains while dwelling therein, he will then without prolonged
hardship attain the samādhi that removes all obscurations. If he attains this
[samādhi], then he will dwell on a par with buddhas and bodhisattvas: he
will generate the five supernatural faculties; obtain the dhāraṇī (retention)
of immeasurable languages, words, and sounds; know the workings of the 2a
minds of beings; be protected by buddhas; remain undefiled even in birth-
and-death (samsara); not shirk fatigue for the sake of beings throughout the
Dharma realm; succeed in abiding in the unconditioned precepts; be free
from wrong views; and thoroughly understand right views. Furthermore,
Lord of Mysteries, a bodhisattva dwelling in this [samādhi] that removes all
obscurations will, through the power of his faith-and-understanding and with-
out prolonged exertion, satisfy all the dharmas (attributes) of a buddha. Lord
of Mysteries, in short, this man of good [family] or woman of good [fam-
ily] will fully achieve the accomplishment of immeasurable merits.”
Then the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries again questioned the Buddha in
verse:

How, World-honored One, do you explain the arising of bodhi in

this mind?
And by what signs does one know that one has generated the
bodhi-mind?
I beg you to explain the arising of the knowing mind, the mind, and
excellent spontaneous knowledge.
Great Striving Hero (mahāvīra), through how many stages does the
mind successively arise?
I beg you, O Buddha, to explain in full the characteristics of the
mind and the time [necessary to attain bodhi],
As well as the mass of merits and the practice of cultivated practices,
The mind and the distinctions possessed by the mind—please, O
Great Muni, explain them!

When Vajrapāṇi had finished speaking thus, the World-honored One

Mahāvairocana addressed him, saying:

7
 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

Excellent, true son of the Buddha! With your magnanimousness

you benefit [sentient beings].
The characteristics of the successive arising of the mind, the
supreme state of the Great Vehicle,
Are the great secret of the buddhas, unknowable by non-Buddhists.
I shall now reveal it all: with singlemindedness you should listen
attentively.
By transcending the one hundred and sixty [impure states of the]
mind, vast merits are produced,
And their nature forever firm, one knows that bodhi has arisen.
It is immeasurable like empty space, unblemished, and everlasting;
Dharmas cannot move it, and it is originally quiescent and has no
[differentiating] characteristics.
Immeasurable knowledge is accomplished, and perfect and full
awakening manifests;
Cultivating the practices of worship, one thereby generates the
[bodhi-]mind for the first time.

“Lord of Mysteries, ordinary people, foolish and childlike, [who have

been dwelling in] beginningless birth-and-death, cling to the notion of ‘self’
and to the possessions of the self, and differentiate among immeasurable dis-
tinctions of the self. Lord of Mysteries, if they do not discern the own-nature
of the self, then [notions of] ‘I’ and ‘mine’ are born. Others again imagine
that there exists [as the prime cause] time, the transformation of earth and
other [elements], the self of yoga, established purity, unestablished non-
2b purity, or the god Īśvara, or emanation, or time, or the revered, or the spon-
taneous, or the inner self, or [self in] the measure of man, or the completely
adorned, or life-force, or pudgala (person), or consciousness, or ālaya (store
[-consciousness]), the knower, the seer, the grasper, the grasped, what knows
internally, what knows externally, jñatvam (intelligence), mind-born, young-
ster, what is eternally and determinately born, sound, and non-sound.3 Lord
of Mysteries, such distinctions of the self have since times of yore been asso-
ciated with [false] differentiation, and [the adherents of these views] hope
for liberation in accordance with reason.
“Lord of Mysteries, ordinary people and their ilk, foolish and childlike,
are just like rams. At times a dharmic thought may arise, namely, [the thought

8
 Fascicle One

of] observing abstinence. Reflecting on this small thing, they engender joy and
practice it from time to time. Lord of Mysteries, this represents the initial [stage
of the] seed from which wholesome actions arise. Then, with this as the cause,
on the six days of abstinence4 they make gifts to their parents, male and female
[children], and kinsmen: this represents the second [stage of] sprouting. Then
they present these gifts to those who are not kinsmen or acquaintances: this
represents the third [stage of] budding. Then they present these gifts to those
of competence and eminent virtue: this represents the fourth [stage of] leafing.
Then they joyfully present these gifts to musicians and so on and proffer them
to venerable elders: this represents the fifth [stage of] flowering. Then with
these gifts they engender thoughts of affection and make offerings of them:
this represents the sixth [stage of] bearing fruit. Next, Lord of Mysteries, they
observe the precepts so as to be born in heaven: this represents the seventh
[stage of] taking in seeds.
“Next, Lord of Mysteries, as they transmigrate through birth-and-death
with this mind [of the seventh stage], they hear the following words from a
good friend: ‘This is a god, a great god, who bestows all happiness. If you
worship him with devotion, all your wishes will be fulfilled. [These gods are,]
namely,5 Īśvara, Brahmā, Nārāyaṇa, Śaṃkara, the Black God (= Rudra), the
son of Īśvara (= Skanda), Āditya (Sun), Candra (Moon), the honored nāgas,
as well as Kubera, Vaiśravaṇa, Śākya, Virūpākṣa, Viśvakarmā, Yama, Yama’s
queen consort (Yamī), Brahmā’s queen consort (Brahmāṇī), Lokanātha, Agni,
the son of Garuḍa, Īśvara’s queen consort, [the nāga] Padma, the nāga Takṣaka,
the nāgas Vāsuki, Śaṅkha, Karkoṭaka, Mahāpadma, Kulika, Mahāphaṇi,
Ādideva, and Sadānanta, or celestial seers, and great masters of the Vedas.
Each of these should be duly worshiped.’ Upon hearing this, their hearts are
filled with blessed joy, and respectfully revering them, they practice accord-
ingly. Lord of Mysteries, this is called the eighth [stage of the] mind of the
young child,6 the basis of fearlessness for common people, foolish and child-
like, as they transmigrate through birth-and-death.
“Lord of Mysteries, next there is a special practice. Following their [friend’s]
instructions, they dwell in a special state, whereupon there arises the wisdom
that seeks liberation. This is, namely, [the teachings of] permanence, imper-
manence, and emptiness, and they follow these teachings. Lord of Myster-
ies, it is not that they understand emptiness and non-emptiness, permanence

9
 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

and annihilation. With regard to both nonexistence and non-nothingness,

they consider what they differentiate to be without differentiation. How is
2c one to differentiate emptiness? They do not know the varieties of emptiness,
and [so] they will never be able to know nirvana. Therefore, one should real-
ize that emptiness is dissociated from annihilation and permanence.”
Then Vajrapāṇi made another request of the Buddha, saying, “World-
honored One, please explain those [various states of] mind.”
When Vajrapāṇi, Lord of Mysteries, had finished speaking thus, the
Buddha addressed him, saying, “Lord of Mysteries, listen attentively to the
characteristics of the mind. They are, namely, the mind of covetousness, the
mind without covetousness, the mind of anger, the mind of kindness, the
mind of stupidity, the mind of wisdom, the mind of decisiveness, the mind
of doubt, the mind of darkness, the mind of clarity, the mind of accumula-
tion, the mind of strife, the mind of disputation, the mind without disputa-
tion, the mind of a god, the mind of an asura, the mind of a nāga, the mind
of a man, the mind of a woman, the mind of Īśvara, the mind of a merchant,
the mind of a farmer, the mind of a river, the mind of a pond, the mind of a
well, the mind of protectiveness, the mind of parsimony, the mind of a dog,
the mind of a cat, the mind of a garuḍa, the mind of a rat, the mind of singing,
the mind of dance, the mind of drum-beating, the mind of a house, the mind
of a lion, the mind of an owl, the mind of a crow, the mind of a rākṣasa, the
mind of a thorn, the mind of a cave, the mind of wind, the mind of water,
the mind of fire, the mind of mud, the mind of dye, the mind of a plank, the
mind of confusion, the mind of poison, the mind of a noose, the mind of fet-
ters, the mind of a cloud, the mind of a field, the mind of salt, the mind of a
razor, the mind like [Mount] Sume[ru], the mind like the ocean, the mind
like a hole, and the mind of [re]birth.
“Lord of Mysteries, what is the mind of covetousness? It means to con-
form to defiled dharmas. What is the mind without covetousness? It means
to conform to undefiled dharmas. What is the mind of anger? It means to con-
form to the dharma of wrath. What is the mind of kindness? It means to con-
form to and cultivate the dharma of kindness. What is the mind of stupidity?
It means to conform to and cultivate the dharma of nonexamination. What is
the mind of wisdom? It means to conformingly cultivate dharmas that are
special and increase [one’s understanding]. What is the mind of decisiveness?

10
 Fascicle One

It means to carry out as told the instructions of the venerable. What is the
mind of doubt? It means to always keep things undecided and so on. What is
the mind of darkness? It means to produce an understanding based on mis-
givings with regard to dharmas about which there should be no misgivings.
What is the mind of clarity? It means to practice without misgivings with
regard to dharmas about which there can be no misgivings. What is the mind
of accumulation? It means to be naturally disposed to make what is immeas-
urable one. What is the mind of strife? It means to be naturally disposed to
argue with others about pros and cons. What is the mind of disputation? It
means to produce pros and cons within oneself. What is the mind without dis-
putation? It means to discard both pros and cons. What is the mind of a god?
It means that the mind’s thoughts are accomplished as one conceives of them.
What is the mind of an asura? It means to enjoy staying in [the cycle of] birth-
and-death. What is the mind of a nāga? It means to think about enormous
wealth. What is the mind of a man? It means to think about benefiting oth-
ers. What is the mind of a woman? It means to conform to the dharma of
desire. What is the mind of Īśvara? It means to think that one should be able
to do everything as one wishes. What is the mind of a merchant? It means to
conformingly cultivate the dharma of first gathering [goods cheaply] and later
dividing [and selling them at a profit]. What is the mind of a farmer? It means
to conform to the dharma of first listening extensively and later seeking. What 3a
is the mind of a river? It means to conformingly cultivate the dharma of rely-
ing on two extremes. What is the mind of a pond? It means to conform to the
dharma of thirsting insatiably. What is the mind of a well? It means to think
thus, that what is profound is exceedingly profound. What is the mind of pro-
tectiveness? It means [to consider] that only this mind is real and other minds
are not real. What is the mind of parsimony? It means to conform to the
dharma of acting for oneself and not giving to others. What is the mind of a
cat? It means to conformingly cultivate the dharma of proceeding slowly.
What is the mind of a dog? It means to obtain a little and be happily content
with it. What is the mind of a garuḍa? It means to conform to the dharma of
[relying on] associates and assistants. What is the mind of a rat? It means to
think about severing all bonds. [What is the mind of singing? It means to think
that sentient beings are to be captivated with songs of various melodies.]7
What is the mind of dance? It means [to think] that by cultivating such a

11
The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

dharma, one will rise up [in the air and perform] various supernatural trans-
formations. What is the mind of drum-beating? It means [to think] that by
cultivating this dharma conformingly, one will beat the drum of the Dharma.
What is the mind of a house? It means to conformingly cultivate the dharma
of protecting one’s own person. What is the mind of a lion? It means to cul-
tivate the dharma of non-timidity in all things. What is the mind of an owl?
It means to think always in the dark of the night. What is the mind of a crow?
It means to think with fear in all circumstances. What is the mind of a rākṣasa?
It means to bring about what is unwholesome in what is wholesome. What
is the mind of a thorn? It means to be naturally disposed to give rise to regret
in all circumstances. What is the mind of a cave? It means to conformingly
cultivate the dharma of entering caves [to fulfill one’s desires]. What is the
mind of wind? It means to be naturally disposed to arise everywhere. What
is the mind of water? It means to conformingly cultivate the dharma of wash-
ing away everything that is unwholesome. What is the mind of fire? It means
to be naturally disposed to flare up with intense heat. [What is the mind of
mud? It means to soil others with one’s own faults.]8 What is the mind of
dye? It means to be naturally disposed to resemble another. What is the mind
of a plank? It means to conformingly cultivate dharmas that accord with
one’s own measure by rejecting other wholesome [dharmas]. What is the
mind of confusion? It means that what is [mentally] grasped differs from
what it is thought to be. What is the mind of poison? It means to conform-
ingly cultivate the dharma of lifelessness. What is the mind of a noose? It
means to be naturally disposed to dwell everywhere in the bonds of the self.
What is the mind of fetters? It means to be naturally disposed to stand still
with both feet. What is the mind of a cloud? It means to be always thinking
about falling rain. What is the mind of a field? It means to always attend in
this manner to one’s own person. What is the mind of salt? It means to add
yet more thought to what has been thought through. What is the mind of a
razor? It means to only rely in this manner on the dharma of the tonsure.
What is the mind like [Mount Su]meru? It means that the cogitating mind is
always naturally disposed to elevating itself. What is the mind like the ocean?
It means to always accept oneself in this manner and abide [thus]. What is
the mind like a hole? It means to be naturally disposed to first decide some-
thing and later amend it. What is the mind of [re]birth? It means to habitually

12
 Fascicle One

perform all manner of actions and be [re]born [in accordance with one’s pre-
vious actions], and the mind is of this same nature.9
“Lord of Mysteries, multiplying by two once, twice, three times, four
times and five times, there are altogether one hundred and sixty minds.10
When one transcends the mundane three false attachments,11 the supramun-
dane mind is born. That is to say, having thus understood that there are only 3b
the [five] aggregates and no-self, one lingers on in cultivation [associated
with] the [six] sense organs, [six] sense objects, and [six] elements (i.e., six
consciousnesses), pulls out the stumps of karma and mental afflictions and
the seeds of ignorance whence are born the twelve causes and conditions [of
dependent arising], and dissociates oneself from the schools of established
[purity] and so on. Such deep serenity cannot be known by any non-Buddhists,
and previous buddhas have proclaimed it to be free from all faults.
“Lord of Mysteries, with this supramundane mind dwelling in the [five]
aggregates, such wisdom may arise correspondingly. If one is to give rise to
freedom from attachment to the aggregates, one should observe foam, bub-
bles, a plantain tree, a mirage, and an illusion, thereby attaining liberation.
That is to say, the [five] aggregates, [twelve] sense fields, [eighteen] ele-
ments, and the grasper and the grasped are all removed from Dharma-nature,
and when one realizes the realm of quiescence in this manner, it is called the
supramundane mind. Lord of Mysteries, when one has left behind the sequence
of eight minds incompatible and compatible [with the world]12 and the web
of karma and mental afflictions, this represents the yogin’s practice for tran-
scending one eon.
“Next, Lord of Mysteries, there is the practice of the Great Vehicle,
whereby one generates the mind of the vehicle without any object [of cog-
nition] and [understands] that dharmas have no self-nature. How? Just like
those who practiced thus in former times, one observes the ālaya (substra-
tum) of the aggregates and realizes that its own-nature is like an illusion, a
mirage, a reflection, an echo, a whirling wheel of fire, and an [imaginary]
gandharva city. Lord of Mysteries, if one thus abandons no-self [in dhar-
mas], the mind-lord being absolutely free, one awakens to the fact that one’s
own mind is originally unborn. Why? Because, Lord of Mysteries, the ante-
rior and posterior limits of the mind cannot be apprehended. When one thus
knows the nature of one’s own mind, this represents the yogin’s practice for
transcending a second eon.

13
 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

“Next, Lord of Mysteries, bodhisattvas cultivating bodhisattva practices

via the gateway of mantras accomplish all the immeasurable merit and knowl-
edge accumulated during immeasurable and incalculable hundreds of thou-
sands of koṭis of nayutas of eons and all the immeasurable wisdom and expe-
dient means for fully cultivating all practices; they become a refuge for the
worlds of gods and humans, they transcend the stages of all śrāvakas and
pratyekabuddhas, and they are attended and revered by Śakra Devendra
(King of Gods) and so on. So-called emptiness is dissociated from the sense
organs and sense objects, has no [differentiating] characteristics and no [cog-
nitive] objectivity, transcends all frivolous arguments (prapañca), and is
boundless like empty space; all the dharmas (attributes) of a buddha are suc-
cessively born in dependence on it, and it is dissociated from the conditioned
and unconditioned realms, dissociated from all activities, and dissociated
from the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind. [Then] is born the mind
utterly without own-nature. Lord of Mysteries, such an initial mind the
Buddha has declared to be the cause for becoming a buddha; although lib-
erated from karma and mental afflictions, it still has karma and mental afflic-
tions at its base. The world will venerate [such a person] and should always
make offerings to him.
“Next, Lord of Mysteries, in the stage of practice with faith-and-under-
standing one observes the three minds,13 the vision of wisdom [based on]
immeasurable pāramitās, and the four means of conversion. The stage of
faith-and-understanding is unparalleled, immeasurable, and inconceivable,
and [in it] one establishes the ten minds14 and boundless knowledge is born.
Everything whatsoever that I have taught is all obtained on the basis of this
[stage]. Therefore, the wise person should reflect on this stage of faith-and-
understanding in omniscience, and transcending one more eon he should
ascend to dwell in this stage. One quarter of this will take one beyond [the
stage of] faith-and-understanding.”15
3c Then the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries said to the Buddha, “World-
honored One, I beg you, O savior of the world, to explain the characteris-
tics of the mind. How many stations of fearlessness are there to be obtained
by a bodhisattva?”
When Vajrapāṇi had finished speaking thus, the World-honored One
Mahāvairocana addressed him, saying, “Listen attentively and consider most

14
 Fascicle One

carefully [what I say]. Lord of Mysteries, when those ordinary people, fool-
ish and childlike, cultivate wholesome actions and renounce unwholesome
actions, they will obtain ‘fearlessness of the wholesome.’ If they know the
self as it really is, they will obtain ‘fearlessness of the body.’ If they observe
their own body composed of the aggregates of attachment, abandoning any
material image of themselves, they will obtain ‘fearlessness of no-self.’ If
they renounce the aggregates and dwell in the cognition of dharmas, they
will obtain ‘fearlessness of dharmas.’ If they renounce dharmas and dwell
without any object [of cognition], they will obtain ‘fearlessness of the no-
self of dharmas.’ Again, all [five] aggregates, [eighteen] elements, and
[twelve] sense fields, the grasper and the grasped, self, life, and so on, as
well as dharmas and objectlessness, are empty and their own-nature is with-
out any [essential] nature—when this knowledge of emptiness is born, they
will obtain ‘fearlessness of the equality of the own-nature of all dharmas.’
“Lord of Mysteries, if bodhisattvas cultivating bodhisattva practices via
the gateway of mantras examine in deep cultivation the ten propositions
about dependent arising, they will master mantra practices and achieve real-
ization therein. What are the ten [propositions about dependent arising]?
They are, namely, that [dependent arising] is like an illusion, a mirage, a
dream, a reflection, a gandharva city, an echo, the moon [reflected] in water,
bubbles, a flower in empty space, and a whirling wheel of fire. Lord of Mys-
teries, those bodhisattvas cultivating bodhisattva practices via the gateway
of mantras should observe in the following manner.
“What is an illusion? It is just as when, through the art of magic and the
power of drugs, various visible images, both those creating [other illusions]
and those created, deceive one’s eyes so that one sees remarkable things that
produce one another in succession, coming and going in the ten directions,
and yet they neither go nor do they not go. Why? Because their original
nature is pure. In the same way illusions [produced by] mantras are able to
produce anything through success in recitation.
“Next, Lord of Mysteries, a mirage is by nature empty; it is in depend-
ence on the false notions of worldlings that it is established and may be spo-
ken about. In the same way the notion of mantras is merely a provisional
designation.

15
 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

“Next, Lord of Mysteries, just as things seen in a dream last for a day,
a muhūrta (forty-eight minutes), a kṣaṇa (instant), a year, or some other
[period of time], are of various strange kinds, and cause experiences of all
manner of suffering and happiness, yet upon awakening there is nothing
whatsoever to be seen, so too should the dreamlike mantra practices be known
to be thus.
“Next, Lord of Mysteries, with the analogy of a reflection one compre-
hends how mantras are able to produce siddhi. Just as a face in dependence
on a mirror manifests an image of the face, so too should one understand
siddhi [produced by] mantras.
“Next, Lord of Mysteries, with the analogy of an [imaginary] gandharva
city one comprehends the accomplishment of a palace [produced as] siddhi.
“Next, Lord of Mysteries, with the analogy of an echo one comprehends
the sound of mantras. Just as an echo exists in dependence on sound, so too
should the mantrin understand [mantras].
“Next, Lord of Mysteries, just as the moon rises with the result that it
shines upon clear water and manifests a reflected image of the moon, so too
4a should the vidyādhara thus explain the likening of mantras to the moon in
the water.
“Next, Lord of Mysteries, just as the heavens cause rain to fall, pro-
ducing bubbles, so too should the various transformations of siddhi [pro-
duced by] mantras be known to be thus.
“Next, Lord of Mysteries, it is just as in space there are neither beings
nor life and no creator can be apprehended, and yet because the mind is
deluded and confused, it produces these various false visions [of nonexist-
ent flowers and so on in empty space].
“Next, Lord of Mysteries, it is like a firebrand: if someone holding it in
his hand then whirls it around in the air, there will appear the image of a wheel.
“Lord of Mysteries, in this manner one should understand this state of
the Great Vehicle, this state of the mind, this state of what is equal to the
unequaled, this state of certainty, this state of perfect and full awakening,
and this state of gradual birth in the Great Vehicle. One will [then] be able
to completely possess the riches of the Dharma, bring forth great knowledge
with various skills, and fully know all notions about the mind as it really is.”

16
 Chapter II

Full Accoutrements and Mantras

for Entering the Maṇḍala

Thereupon the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries said to the Buddha, “It is remark-
able, World-honored One, that you should explain this saṃbodhi self-real-
ized by the buddhas, the inconceivable Dharma realm which transcends the
mind-ground, and that by various means and ways you expound the Dharma
for the varieties of beings in accordance with their own nature and faith-and-
understanding. I beg you, World-honored One, next to explain the cultiva-
tion of mantra practices and the great king of maṇḍalas ‘Born of the Matrix
of Great Compassion’ for the fulfillment of immeasurable beings in future
ages and for their salvation and happiness.”
Then the Bhagavān Vairocana, having completely surveyed the great
assembly, addressed the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries, saying, “Listen atten-
tively, Vajrapāṇi! I shall now explain the Dharma gateway for cultivating
maṇḍala practices and bringing to fulfillment the knowledge of an omnis-
cient one.”
Then, because the World-honored One Vairocana had formerly vowed
to accomplish the inexhaustible Dharma realm and liberate realms of beings
without exception, all the Tathāgatas gathered together and he gradually entered
the samādhi “Generation of the Matrix of Great Compassion.” From every
part [of the body] of the World-honored One there appeared figures of Tathā-
gatas that, for the sake of beings ranging from those who had generated the
[bodhi-]mind for the first time to those of the tenth stage, pervaded the ten
directions and then returned to their own positions in the Buddha’s body,
where, abiding in their own positions, they reentered [the Buddha’s body].
Then the Bhagavān again addressed the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries,
saying, “Listen attentively, Vajrapāṇi, to the layout of the maṇḍala! First,
the ācārya should have generated the bodhi-mind; he should have wondrous

17
 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

wisdom and compassion, combine various arts, be well skilled in the culti-
vation of prajñāpāramitā, have mastered the three vehicles, fully compre-
hend the true meaning of mantras, know the minds of beings, have faith in
the buddhas and bodhisattvas, have received the consecrations for transmit-
ting the teachings and so on, and be well versed in the drawing of a maṇḍala;
by nature he should be adaptable and free from self-attachment, and he should
have duly gained decisiveness in the practice of mantras, have thoroughly
4b practiced yoga, and dwell in the intrepid bodhi-mind. Lord of Mysteries, such
an exemplary ācārya is extolled by the buddhas and bodhisattvas.
“Next, Lord of Mysteries, should that ācārya see a being who is suit-
able as a receptacle for the Dharma, is free from sullies, has great faith-and-
understanding, assiduity, and profound faith, and is always thinking of benefit-
ing others—should the disciple possess such characteristics, the ācārya
should of his own accord go and exhort him, addressing him as follows:

‘Son of the Buddha, these methods of the path of mantra practice

in the Great Vehicle
I shall now explain for [you,] a receptacle for the Great Vehicle.
The Fully and Perfectly Awakened Ones of the past and the
World-honored Ones
Of future ages and of the present abide in bringing benefit to beings.
These worthy ones understand the wondrous method of mantras;
Striving Heroes, they have obtained [all-]faceted knowledge while
seated in characteristicless bodhi.
The power of mantras is without compare, and [with it] the Lion of
the Śākyas, savior of the world,
Was able to destroy the very strong and extremely wrathful army
of Māra.
Therefore you, O Son of the Buddha, should with such wisdom
And expedient means perform [rites of] accomplishment so that you
obtain sarvajña[jñāna] (knowledge of an omniscient one).’
The practitioner (i.e., ācārya), having with a compassionate mind
inspired [the disciple], should further encourage him,
And when [the disciple] is firmly established and has received the
teachings, he should select a flat site.

18
 Fascicle One

Mountain groves with plentiful flowers and fruits and with

agreeable pure springs—
These are extolled by the buddhas, and [there] he should perform
the deeds of the circular altar (i.e., maṇḍala).
Or in a place by a flowing river graced with geese and cranes,
There, with wise understanding, he should construct the maṇḍala
‘Born of Compassion.’
Localities formerly frequented by Perfectly Awakened Ones, masters
of dependent [arising] (i.e., pratyekabuddhas),
And multitudes of śrāvakas of the Sage are always praised by
the Buddha.
Furthermore, in other places such as monasteries, araṇyas
(hermitages),
Flower[-decked] houses, high towers, exquisite ponds and parks,
Caityas, shrines for the Fire God (Agni), cow pens, river sandbars,16
Temples of gods, empty rooms, and places where seers have
attained the path—
In places such as these described above or [others] pleasing to
the mind
He should draw a maṇḍala in order to bring benefit to the disciple. 4c

“Lord of Mysteries, having selected a site, he clears away pebbles, bro-

ken earthenware, potsherds, skulls, hair, chaff, ashes, cinders, thorns, bones,
rotten wood, and so on, as well as insects, ants, dung beetles, and poisonous
or stinging kinds [of creatures].
“Once such flaws have been removed, on the morning of a propitious
day, having determined a day on which the time, lunar mansion, and plan-
ets are all in harmony, and at a time before the [morning] meal with an aus-
picious sign, he should first make obeisance to all the Tathāgatas and arouse
the Earth God[dess] (Pṛthivī) with these verses:

You, O Goddess, are witness to how the buddhas, guiding teachers,

Performed special practices and purified the [ten] stages and
pāramitās.
Just like the Lion of the Śākyas, savior of the world, who defeated
the hosts of Māra’s army,

19
 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

I too will vanquish Māra, and [then] I shall draw a maṇḍala.

“He should kneel down with his [right] hand stretched out upon the
ground and chant this verse repeatedly. He should [also] make offerings of
unguent, flowers, and so on, and after having made offerings, the mantrin
should again take refuge in all the Tathāgatas. Then he prepares the site in
accordance with [ritual] procedures so that it possesses many virtues.”
Then the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries bowed down at the feet of the
World-honored One and spoke these verses:

“The Buddha’s Dharma is free from all characteristics, and the

Dharma abides in the station of the Dharma;
What you have explained is incomparable, without characteristics,
and unconditioned.
Yet why, O Great Energetic One, do you teach this which has
characteristics,
As well as mantra practices? This does not conform with the way
of Dharma-thusness!”
Then the Bhagavān, the Buddha Vairocana,
Addressed Vajrapāṇi: “Listen carefully to the characteristics of the
Dharma!
The Dharma is free from differentiation and all false conceptions.
If one eliminates false conceptions and the workings of the mind
and thought,
The supreme and perfect awakening that I attained is ultimately
like empty space,
But unknown to ordinary foolish beings, who are wrongly attached
to the objective realm.
That they hanker after [auspicious] times, directions, signs, and so on
is because they are enveloped by ignorance,
And it is in order to liberate them that these are taught in conformity
with them as an expedient.
But in reality there is no time or direction, nothing done, and no doer;
All dharmas simply abide in the real character [of things].
Furthermore, Lord of Mysteries, in future ages
5a Beings of inferior intelligence, shrouded in stupidity and passion,

20
 Fascicle One

Will simply on the basis of their attachment to existence forever

delight in the impermanent and the permanent
And in good and bad signs in times, directions, and the actions that
they perform.
Ignorant of this path, they will blindly seek results,
And it is in order to deliver them that I teach this method in
conformity with them.

“Lord of Mysteries, one prepares a site from among the places such as
were described [above] and makes it hard. Taking gomayī (cow dung) and
gomūtra (cow’s urine) that have not fallen to the ground, one mixes them
together and smears them [over the site]. Then, with the mantra for perfumed
water, one purifies [the site] by sprinkling [it with perfumed water]. The
mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, apratisame gaganasame samatā-
nugate prakṛtiviśuddhe dharmadhātuviśodhani svāhā. (Homage to all
Buddhas! O you who are without equal! you who are equal to the sky! you
who have attained equality! you who are pure by nature! you who purify the
Dharma realm! svāhā!)17 [1]

Next, the practitioner, in the middle [of the site] with his mind
concentrated, visualizes Vairocana,
Who is on a seat of a white lotus flower, his hair done in a topknot
to form a crown,18
And emits light rays of various colors that completely surround his
entire body.
Next—this too should be done in a state of meditation—he visualizes
the buddhas of the four quarters.
The [buddha of the] eastern quarter is called Ratnaketu, and the
color of his body is like the radiance of the sun [at sunrise].
The great striving hero (mahāvīra) in the southern quarter is the
fully awakened Saṃkusumita[rājendra]:
He is golden in color and emits rays of light, and his samādhi is
free from all sullies.
The Buddha Akṣobhya in the northern quarter is in meditation,
free from affliction and composed.
The benevolent and victorious one (jina) in the western quarter—
he is called Amitāyus.

21
 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

The reciter, contemplating [thus], then dwells in the buddha

chamber,19
Where he should take possession of the site with [the mantra of]
Acala of great renown
Or by using [the mantra of] Trailokyavijaya, by which all objectives
are accomplished.
White sandalwood is used to paint the fine round maṇḍalas
(i.e., circles)—
The first in the center is for myself (i.e., Vairocana), the second is
for the world-saviors,
And the third, like theirs, is for the Buddha-Mother Gaganalocanā;
The fourth is for Padmapāṇi, the fifth is for the vajradhara
(i.e., Vajrapāṇi),
And the sixth, for Acalanātha, is mindfully placed below that
[for Vajrapāṇi].
5b He offers unguent, flowers, and so on, thinking of the Tathāgatas,
And with utmost sincerity and showing respect, he utters the
following verse:
‘Because the buddhas, compassionate ones, pay heed to us,
May they take possession of the site tomorrow, and may the
Buddha’s sons descend as well!’

“Having said this, he should then recite this mantra: Namaḥ samanta-
buddhānāṃ, sarvatathāgatādhiṣṭhānādhiṣṭhite acale vimale smaraṇe prakṛti-
pariśuddhe svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who have been empow-
ered by the empowerment of all the Tathāgatas! unmoving one! unsullied one!
you who remember! you who are completely pure by nature! svāhā!) [2]

The mantra-reciting practitioner next engenders thoughts of

compassion,
And repairing to the western quarter, with focused thoughts he goes
to sleep,
Thinking of no-self in the purity of the bodhi-mind.
In his dreams he may see bodhisattvas of great renown
And buddhas without measure appear and perform various deeds,
Or, with thoughts of comfort, they may encourage the practitioner,
[saying,]

22
 Fascicle One

‘Because you are mindful of beings, you construct a maṇḍala.

Excellent, Mahāsattva! What you draw is quite sublime!’
Then, on another (i.e., the next) day, he receives the initiands.
If the disciples have faith, have been born into a pure lineage,
Revere the Three Jewels, adorn themselves with profound wisdom,
Have perseverance, are not lethargic, are pure and faultless in their
śīla (moral conduct),
Have patience, are not miserly, and are intrepid and firm in their
vows of practice—
Such people should be accepted, regardless of any other [short–
comings].
For either ten or eight, seven or five, two, one or four [people]
Should the initiation be performed, or even if the number exceeds
this.”

Then Vajrapāṇi, Lord of Mysteries, again said to the Buddha, “World-

honored One, what should this maṇḍala be called? And what is the mean-
ing of ‘maṇḍala’?”
The Buddha said, “This is called the ‘Maṇḍala Which Generates the
Buddhas.’ It is of a taste (maṇḍa: “essence”) that is utterly without compare
and of a taste that is unsurpassed, and therefore it is referred to as ‘maṇḍala.’
Furthermore, Lord of Mysteries, because of pity for boundless realms of 5c
beings this is in a broad sense the maṇḍala ‘Born of the Matrix of Great
Compassion.’
“Lord of Mysteries, [the maṇḍala] is empowered by the anuttarā samyak-
saṃbodhi accumulated by the Tathāgata during immeasurable eons, and
therefore it is endowed with immeasurable virtues. You should understand
as follows, Lord of Mysteries: it was not for the sake of one being that the
Tathāgata attained perfect and full awakening, nor was it for two nor for
many [beings]; it was out of pity for the realms of beings with complete pre-
dictions and incomplete predictions [of their future awakening] that the Tathā-
gata attained perfect and full awakening, and by the power of his vow of
great compassion he expounds the Dharma in immeasurable realms of beings
in accordance with their own nature.
“Lord of Mysteries, those who have not practiced the Great Vehicle in
the past and have never thought about the practices of the Mantra Vehicle

23
The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

are unable in the slightest degree to see or hear them, rejoice in them, and
accept them on faith. But, Vajrasattva, if those sentient beings have in the
past advanced through the immeasurable gateways of the path of the Mantra
Vehicle of the Great Vehicle and have already been practicing it, it is for
them that terms and numbers have been established within these [above-
mentioned] limits.
“The ācārya, too, should with thoughts of great compassion make the
following vow: to receive immeasurable beings and create the causes and
conditions for the seeds of bodhi so as to deliver [all] realms of beings with-
out exception.

The mantra-reciting practitioner, having received [the disciples]

in this manner,
Commands them to take the Three Refuges, makes them confess
their previous sins,
Gives them unguent, flowers, and so on to offer to the holy deities,
And should confer upon them the precept of knowledge unobstructed
throughout the three ages.
Next, he should give them tooth sticks, of either uḍumbara
Or aśvattha and so on, protected [with a mantra], purified,
Adorned with perfume and flowers, straight, and conforming with
[distinctions between] top and bottom.
[The disciples] face either east or north, and having chewed [the
sticks], they cast them down—
[Thereby the ācārya] will know the signs of whether these beings
are suitable as receptacles or not.
A sūtra (cord) with three knots is then tied to their left arms.
In order that the disciples thus accepted may be freed from defilements
And increase their faith, [the ācārya] should expound the Dharma
accordingly
And encourage them, making their resolution firm, by proclaiming
these verses:
‘You will obtain an unequaled boon, your position identical to that
of the Great Selves.
All the Tathāgatas and the multitudes of bodhisattvas in this teaching

24
 Fascicle One

Have all received you, and you will accomplish the great deed
(i.e., enlightenment).
Tomorrow you will gain birth in the Great Vehicle.’ 6a
[The ācārya] having instructed them in this manner, they may in
dreams while asleep
See monks’ dwellings, groves all imposingly lovely,
Halls of outstanding appearance, bright and spacious [multistory]
houses,
Banners, parasols, maṇi-gems, jeweled swords, flowers pleasing
to the mind,
Women in fresh white garments, upright and of beautiful complexion,
Close relatives or good friends, men of divine physique,
Herds of cows with abundant milk, sutra scrolls clean and unsoiled,
Omniscient ones (i.e., buddhas), pratyekabuddhas, and multitudes
of the Buddha’s śrāvakas,
High-minded bodhisattvas, the actual bestowal of results,
The crossing of oceans, rivers or lakes, as well as the hearing of
pleasant voices
In midair saying, ‘How auspicious!’ or ‘You will be given the fruit
of your mind’s desire!’
Favorable signs such as these should be carefully differentiated,
And those that differ from these should be known not to be good
dreams.
Those [disciples] well-established in the precepts arise on the morrow,
and after they have told the teacher [the content of their dreams],
The teacher expounds the Dharma with these phrases so as to exhort
the practitioners:
‘This path of the most excellent vow,20 the Mahayana of the great
mind—
You now seek after it and will attain [the state of] Tathāgatas,
Great dragons of spontaneous knowledge revered by the world like
stupas;
It completely transcends existence and nonexistence and is unsullied,
like empty space.

25
 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

The profundity of the dharmas is difficult to comprehend, not

contained by anything,
And removed from all false conceptions, for frivolous arguments
are originally nonexistent.
Its activities wondrous, without compare, and always based on the
two truths,
This vehicle is most excellent, and [henceforth] you will dwell in
this path.’”

Then the vajradhara Aprapañcavihārin said to the Buddha, “World-hon-

ored One, I beg you to explain the precept of knowledge unobstructed through-
out the three ages, for if a bodhisattva abides in it, it causes buddhas and
bodhisattvas all to rejoice.”
When he had finished speaking thus, the Buddha addressed the vajra-
dhara Aprapañcavihārin and the others, saying, “Son of the Buddha, listen
attentively! When a person of [good] family abides in this precept, he unites
his body, speech, and mind, making them one, and does not create any dhar-
6b mas. What is [this] precept? It means to observingly renounce one’s own
person and offer it up to the buddhas and bodhisattvas. Why? If one renounces
one’s own person, then one renounces three things. What are [these] three?
They are the body, speech, and mind. Therefore a person of [good] family,
by receiving the precept of body, speech, and mind, gains the designation
‘bodhisattva.’ Why is that? Because he is dissociated from his body, speech,
and mind. The bodhisattva and mahāsattva should train in this manner.
“Next, on the following day, having empowered himself as Vajrasattva
and made obeisance to the World-honored One Vairocana, [the ācārya] should
take a clean flask and fill it with perfumed water; reciting the mantra of
Trailokyavijaya, he empowers it, places it outside the first entrance, and uses
it to sprinkle [water] over people [as they enter the maṇḍala]. The ācārya
[also] offers them purified perfumed water, which he makes them drink so
that their minds may be purified.”
Then the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries questioned the Buddha in verse:

“I beg you, who have [all-]faceted knowledge and are [most]

honored among preachers, to explain the divisions of time:
At what time will the great host [of maṇḍala deities] all assemble
and cause numinous signs to appear

26
 Fascicle One

As the maṇḍala-[ā]cārya earnestly recites mantras?”

Then the Bhagavān addressed the Holder of Adamantine Wisdom:
“The maṇḍala should be constructed always on this [seventh] night.
The Dharma-transmitting ācārya should thus then take
A five-colored sūtra (cord), and bowing down to all the buddhas,
He empowers himself as Great Vairocana.
Starting from the eastern quarter, [the ācārya,] facing [his assistant],
holds the sūtra
In the air level with his navel and moves gradually around to the
right (i.e., clockwise)
And so to the south and west, finishing in the northern quarter.
The second [cord] is for establishing the boundary, and he again
begins from the initial (i.e., eastern) quarter,
Calling to mind the Tathāgatas, and his actions are as described above:
To the right (i.e., southern) quarter, the rear (i.e., western) quarter,
and going around again to the superior (i.e., northern) quarter.21
Next, the ācārya goes around and positions himself in nairṛtī
(i.e., southwest),
While the trainee, who faces him holding [the cord], gradually
proceeds to the south;
From here he moves around to the right, repositioning himself
in the direction of Vāyu (i.e., northwest),
While the teacher shifts his own position and dwells in the direction
of Agni (i.e., southeast)—
The mantra-reciting practitioner too practices such rites.
With the disciple in the southwest, the teacher dwells in aiśānī
(i.e., northeast);
The trainee again moves around, repositioning himself in the direction 6c
of Agni,
While the teacher shifts his own position and dwells in the direction
of Vāyu.
Thus does the mantrin make [the maṇḍala] completely square.
He [then] slowly goes inside [the marked-out area] and divides it
into three [concentric] sections,
And having marked the three sections on the ground right around,

27
The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

He again divides each of the sections into three:

Among these [three concentric subsections] the first section is the
path where [ritual] deeds are performed,22
And the remaining middle and rear sections are the abodes of the
holy divinities.
In the [four] quarters there are four entrances, of which he should
know the measurements,
And with a sincere mind and respect he arrays the holy deities.
He thus fashions the many features [of the maṇḍala], evenly
arranged and carefully differentiated.
In the inner center there is a fine white lotus, a matrix of uniform
proportions.
From within this matrix the entire maṇḍala ‘Born of Compassion’
is created,
And in size it is sixteen aṅguli23 or more.
Its eight petals are quite perfect, the stamens are all imposingly
lovely,
And wisdom-seals [in the shape] of vajras are visible between all
the petals.
From the center of this flowery pedestal Vairocana, the victorious
honored one, appears,
Golden in color, resplendent, and bearing on his head a crown of
hair done in a topknot;
The world-savior is completely encircled with light and, free from
torment, dwells in samādhi.
To his east [the ācārya] should draw the seal of all-omniscience:24
Triangular and on a lotus, it is completely white in color
And entirely surrounded by blazing light, pure white and
all-pervading.
Next, in the northern interstice (i.e., northeast) the teacher [should
draw Gaganalocanā,] the mother of the buddhas:
Shining brightly the color of genuine gold and dressed in plain
white robes,
She is all-illuminating like sunlight and dwells in samādhi, meditating.
Again, to the south [of the seal of all-omniscience] there is the seal
of the world-saving buddhas and bodhisattvas,

28
 Fascicle One

A holy deity of great virtue, called Sarvāśāparipūraka (He Who

Fulfills All Wishes),
A cintāmaṇi (wish-fufilling) gem resting upon a white lotus.
In the northern quarter Avalokiteśvara of great energy,
His lucent color like a bright moon, a śaṅkha (conch shell), or a 7a
kunda (jasmine) flower,
Sits smiling on a white lotus, with Amitāyus visible in his topknot.
To his right is the holy one, the honored one Tārā, of great renown:
With the colors blue and white intermixed, she has the appearance
of a mature woman,
Clasps her palms together and holds a blue lotus, is encircled with
light all-pervading,
Glows just like pure gold, smiles, and has fresh white robes.
To the left [of Avalokiteśvara] is Bhṛkuṭī, a rosary of counting beads
(mālā) hanging from her hand:
With three eyes and wearing her hair in a topknot, her honored
figure is as if white,
And the light that encircles her has no dominant color, with yellow,
red, and white intermingling.
Next, near Bhṛkuṭī, draw the honored one Mahāsthāmaprāpta:
His garments are the color of a śaṅkha, he has great compassion,
holds a lotus flower in his hand
Which is luxuriant but not yet open, and is surrounded by a circle
of light.
The vidyārājñī called Yaśodharā dwells beside him:
All manner of fine strings of jewels adorn her golden-colored body,
And she holds an exquisite twig of flowers [in her right hand] and
in the left holds a priyaṅgu [flower].25
Near the holy one Tārā [the ācārya] positions the honored one
Pāṇḍaravāsinī:
She has a crown of hair [tied in a topknot], wears [robes of] pure
[white] silk, and has a padma (lotus) flower in her hand.
In front of the holy one (i.e., Avalokiteśvara)26 [the ācārya] fashions
the very powerful vidyārāja:27
He is the color of early-morning sunlight, and his body is adorned
with white lotuses;

29
 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

Resplendent with a wreath of flames, he roars angrily with his

fangs bared,
He has sharp nails, his hair is like that of the king of beasts, and he
is [called] Hayagrīva.
These samādhis are those of Avalokiteśvara’s attendants.
Next, in front of the flowery pedestal and to the right of Vairocana
There is the Holder of Adamantine Wisdom (i.e., Vajrapāṇi), able to
fulfill all wishes:
He is the color of a priyaṅgu flower or again like an emerald;
On his head he wears a many-jeweled diadem, and strings of jewels
adorn his person,
Bestudding and embellishing it, vast and immeasurable in number;
In his left [hand] he holds a vajra, and he gives out blazing light
all around.28
To the right of Vajragarbha (i.e., Vajrapāṇi) is she who is called
Māmakī,
7b Who again holds a pestle (i.e., vajra) of firm wisdom and adorns her
person with strings of jewels.
To her right [the ācārya] should next place the very powerful
Vajrasūcī,
Surrounded by a host of messengers who smile and
together look up reverently at her.
To the left of the holy one (i.e., Vajrapāṇi) is Vajraśṛṅkhalā:
She holds a chain of vajras and is accompanied by messengers
of her own,
Her body is pale yellow in color, and she has a wisdom pestle
(vajra) as her insignia.
Below Vajradhara (i.e., Vajrapāṇi) is the wrathful vanquisher of the
three worlds,
Who overcomes great obstructors and is called the honored one
Candratilaka:
He has three eyes, four fangs are visible, he is the color of rainclouds
in summer,
Has an aṭṭa (loud) laughing voice, and [is adorned with] strings of
vajras and jewels;

30
 Fascicle One

In order to safeguard beings he is surrounded by immeasurable hosts,

And his hundred thousand hands brandish various weapons—
These wrathful ones all dwell in lotus flowers.
Next, going to the western quarter, [the ācārya] draws immeasurable
vajradharas
With various vajra seals, their form and color each different,
And everywhere radiating light that encircles them completely for
the sake of beings.
Below the mantra-lord (i.e., Vairocana), in the direction of Nairṛti
(i.e., southwest),
Is Acala, the Tathāgata’s servant: he holds a wisdom sword and
a noose,
The hair from the top of his head hangs down on his left shoulder,
and with one eye he looks fixedly;
Awesomely wrathful, his body [is enveloped in] fierce flames,
and he rests on a rock;
His face is marked with [a frown like] waves on water, and he has
the figure of a stout young boy.
In this manner he who possesses wisdom should next go in the
direction of Vāyu (i.e, northwest),
Where he again draws a wrathful deity, called Trailokyavijaya:
He is surrounded by fearsome flames, has a jeweled diadem, and
holds a vajra;
With no regard for his own life, he devotes himself to requesting
and receiving instructions.
The positions and so on of the deities of the first sector have [now]
been explained,
And the mantra-reciting practitioner next goes to the second
enclosure.
Inside the first entrance in the eastern quarter he draws Śākyamuni:
He is circumfused with a purplish golden color and endowed with
the thirty-two attributes [of a buddha],
Wears a kāṣā[ya] robe, is seated on a white lotus-flower pedestal, 7c
And in order to make the teachings circulate, he dwells there,
expounding the Dharma.

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The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

Next, to the right of the World-honored One [the mantrin] displays

Buddhalocanā:
She is of joyful aspect and smiling, there is a circle of pure light
right around her person,
Her body is a pleasure to see and without compare, and she is called
‘Mother of Śākyamuni.’
Then, to the right of this deity he depicts the vidyā[rājñī] Ūrṇā:
She resides on a padma flower, shines all around with the color
of a śaṅkha,
And holds a wish-fulfilling jewel, fulfilling all wishes.
To the left of the holy deity Śākyasiṃha (Lion of the Śākyas; i.e.,
Śākyamuni), the world-savior
With bright light and great energy, there are the Five Crowns
(uṣṇīṣa) of the Tathāgata:
The first is called Sitātapatra, and [the others are] Jayoṣṇīṣa,
Vijayoṣṇīṣa,
Many-virtued Tejorāśi, and Vikiraṇoṣṇīṣa.
These are called the ‘Five Great Crowns’ and [belong to]
Śākya[muni]’s lineage of the Great Self,
And in this spot [the mantrin] should with heart and soul fashion
their many features.
Next, to his (i.e., Śākyamuni’s) north he arranges the hosts of
Pure Abode (Śuddhāvāsa):
Īśvara, Samantakusuma, Raśmimālin, Manojava,
And Svaraviśruti, each in their proper order.
To the right of Ūrṇā he then draws the Three Buddha-Crowns:
The first is called Mahodgatoṣṇīṣa, the next is called Abhyudgatoṣṇīṣa,
And there is also Anantasvaraghoṣa—all should be properly
installed.
The five kinds of Tathāgata-Crowns are white, yellow, and the color
of genuine gold,
And next the Three Buddha-Crowns have white, yellow, and red.
Their radiance is universally penetrating and extensive, they are
adorned with many strings of jewels,
And with the power of the extensive vows that they have made all
wishes are fulfilled.

32
 Fascicle One

In the eastern corner the practitioner makes an image of the seer Agni:
He dwells in the midst of fiery flames and is marked with three
spots of ash,
The color of his body is all dark red, a triangular seal is placed on
his heart,
And he is in a circle of flames, holding beads and a water-pot.
To the right (i.e., south) there is the king Yama, holding a daṇḍa
(staff) seal in his hand;
He has a water buffalo for a seat, is the color of dark clouds from 8a
which lightning strikes,
And is surrounded by the Seven Mothers, Kālarātri, his consort,
and so on.
The king of demons (Nairṛti) in nairṛtī (i.e., southwest) holds a
sword and has a frightening appearance.
Varuṇa, king of nāgas, has a noose for his seal.
In the initial quarter29 Śakra, King of Gods, resides on Mount Sumeru,
With a jeweled diadem, wearing strings of jewels, and holding a
vajra seal;
The wise person also properly arrays his other attendants.
To the left he places Āditya and his host: he is in a carriage,
And his consorts Jayā and Vijayā guard him, following on both sides.
Great Brahmā is to his right: four-faced, he has a crown of hair
[done in a topknot],
Has the mark of the letter Oṃ as his seal, holds a lotus, and is
[seated] on geese.
In the western quarter are Pṛthivī, Sarasvatī, and Viṣṇu,
Skanda, Vāyu, Śaṃkara, and Candra:
These are in the direction of nāgas (i.e., west)—draw them without
making any mistakes.
The mantra-reciting practitioner, with an unconfused mind,
He, the Buddha’s son, should next fashion the vidyādharas of great
wrath:
The one to the right [of Śākyamuni] is called Aparājita, and the one
to the left is Aparājita’s consort (Aparājitā).
The Earth-bearing God (Dharaṇiṃdharā?), holding up a flask,
kneels reverently.

33
 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

In addition, the two great nāga kings, Nanda and Upananda,

Face each inside the sentry posts, the mighty guardians of the
service entrance [on the west side].
The mantras, seals, and altars of the remaining deities of
Śākya[muni]’s lineage—
Everything that has been explained the teacher should reveal
in detail.
The mantra-reciting practitioner next proceeds to the third enclosure,
Where he first draws Mañjuśrī: his body is the color of saffron,
He has a crown of five topknots on his head and is like a young boy
in appearance;
In his left [hand] he holds a blue lotus flower on top of which is
displayed a vajra seal;
His compassionate face has a broad smile, he is seated on a white
lotus pedestal,
And he is surrounded by a circle of all-pervading light of wondrous
aspect that is iridescent.
On his right side [the mantrin] should next draw Jālinīprabha with
the body of a young boy:
8b He holds a many-jeweled net, has various fine strings of jewels,
And dwells on a jeweled lotus-flower seat, gazing at the Buddha’s
eldest son (i.e., Mañjuśrī).
On [Mañjuśrī’s] left side [the mantrin] draws the five messengers
of Varadavajra (Mañjuśrī):
Namely, Keśinī, Upakeśinī,
And Citrā, Vasumatī, and Ākarṣaṇī.
These five messengers have five servants,
And these two groups both surround and guard Invincible Wisdom
(i.e., Mañjuśrī).
To the right (i.e., south) the practitioner next fashions the greatly
renowned
Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin, who holds a wish-fulfilling jewel.
Ignoring [the division into] two subsections, he should draw eight
bodhisattvas:
Namely, Kautūhala, Sarvasattvābhayaṃdada,

34
 Fascicle One

Sarvāpāyaṃjaha, the bodhisattva Paritrāṇāśayamati,

Karuṇāmṛḍita, Mahāmaitryabhyudgata,
Sarvadāhapraśāmin, and Acintyamati.
Then, leaving that section, he proceeds to the north, the superior
quarter,
Where the practitioner with singlemindedness keeps in mind and
arranges the many colors,
Fashioning the mahāsattva Kṣitigarbha, endowed with excellent
forbearance:
His seat is most skillfully wrought, his body in a matrix of flames;
On ground adorned with sundry jewels finely interlaid
A lotus flower made with four precious things is the resting place
of the holy one.
In addition, there are immeasurable bodhisattvas of great renown:
Namely, Ratnākara,30 Ratnapāṇi, Dharaṇiṃdhara,
Ratnamudrāhasta and Dṛḍhādhyāśaya, and these leading holy deities
Are each together with innumerable multitudes, surrounding them
both in front and behind.
Next, in the direction of nāgas (i.e., west) he should draw
Ākāśagarbha,
The striving hero, who wears white robes and holds a sword that
produces a fiery light.
In addition, his attendants, sons born of the Perfectly Awakened One,
Are each seated in their proper order in a row on standard lotuses.
I shall now explain these attendants, the bodhisattva hosts of the
Great Self (i.e., Ākāśagarbha),
Whose fine figures should be well drawn, conscientiously and 8c
without neglecting anything:
Namely, Gaganāmala; the next is called Gaganamati,
As well as Viśuddhamati, Cāritramati, and Sthiramati.
These bodhisattvas, always striving and energetic,
Are each drawn in their proper order with their figures adorned.
I have [now] finished explaining in brief the layout of the maṇḍala
‘Matrix of Great Compassion.’”

35
The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

Thereupon, in that entire assembly, the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries

gazed steadily at the World-honored One Vairocana without blinking for
even a moment and spoke these verses:

The appearance of an omniscient one in the world

Is like an uḍumbara flower, which appears only once every now
and then;
The path whereby mantras are practiced is far more difficult again
to encounter.
All sinful actions performed during immeasurable koṭis of eons
Will, when one sees this maṇḍala, be extinguished without any
residue whatsoever,
And how much more so if someone of immeasurable renown abides
in the methods of mantra practice,
Practicing mantras of this unsurpassed state, saviors of the world.
He will bring evil destinies to an end, and no suffering will arise,
And if he cultivates such practices, his subtle wisdom will be
profound and unwavering.

Then all the great multitudes that had gathered together, as well as the
vajradharas, extolled Vajrapāṇi with one voice, saying:

Excellent, excellent, Great Striving Hero!

You who have already cultivated mantra practices
Do well to ask about all matters regarding mantras;
We too all have [similar] thoughts on our minds.
We shall all indeed bear witness for your sake,
For we abide in the power of mantra practice,
And other multitudes with the great mind of bodhi
Will attain mastery of the mantra method.

Then the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries again spoke to the World-hon-

ored One, uttering these verses:

“What is the meaning of ‘color’? And what colors are to be used?

How are they to be arranged? Which of these colors comes first?
The size of the archways (toraṇa) with their pennants and likewise
the sentry posts (niryūha),

36
 Fascicle One

And how to construct the entrances—I beg you, O Honored One,

to explain their measurements.
[Explain too] the offering of food, flowers, incense, and so on,
as well as the many-jeweled flasks.
How does one induct disciples? How does one consecrate them? 9a
How does one make offerings to one’s teacher? I beg you to explain
the homa site.
What are the characteristics of mantras? And how does one abide
in samādhi?”
When the Holder of Adamantine Wisdom had finished posing these
questions,
The Muni, the king of dharmas, addressed him, saying, “With
singlemindedness you should listen attentively!
The supreme mantra path produces the fruit of the Great Vehicle,
And what you have just asked me I shall explain for the sake of [you,]
Great Sentient Being!
To dye the realm of beings with the taste of the Dharma realm
Is the teaching of buddhas of yore, and this is known as the meaning
of ‘color.’
First lay out the colors inside [the maṇḍala]; it is not the colors
outside [the maṇḍala] that are to be laid out [first].
Immaculate white is the very first, and the color red is second;
Likewise yellow and green are applied in succession,
And the whole interior is deep black—this is called the sequence
of colors.
When constructing the archways with their pennants, their size is
the same as that of the central matrix (i.e., lotus),
As are also the sentry posts, and the [central] flowery pedestal is
sixteen phalanges [in diameter].
You should know that the entrances to the first [enclosure] are equal
[in width] to the inner altar,
And the wise person gradually increases [their width] in the outer
enclosures.
Inside the sentry posts he should erect mighty guardians.
To explain samādhi in brief, it is to dwell singlemindedly upon
an object.

37
The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

In its broader meaning there are again distinctions—Great Being,

listen attentively!
The Buddha has taught that all is empty and that this is the mental
equipoise of Perfectly Awakened Ones.
Samādhi is knowing the mind by direct witness, and it is not
obtained from anything else.
Such a state is the concentration of all Tathāgatas.
Therefore, it is explained as great emptiness and consummates
sarvajña[jñāna].”

[End of] Fascicle One of the Scripture of the

Enlightenment, Supernatural Transformations,
and Empowerment of Mahāvairocana

38
 Fascicle Two

Chapter II
(continued)

Full Accoutrements and Mantras

for Entering the Maṇḍala

Then the World-honored One Vairocana and all the buddhas gathered together,
and each proclaimed paths of samādhi for all śrāvakas, pratyekabuddhas,
and bodhisattvas. Thereupon the Buddha [Vairocana] entered the samādhi
“Swift Power of the Single Essence of All Tathāgatas,” and while in this
[samādhi] the World-honored One again addressed the bodhisattva Vajra-
dhara (i.e., Vajrapāṇi), saying:

Formerly when I was seated at the site of bodhi (bodhimaṇḍa)

I vanquished the four demons,
And with the voice of a great striving hero I removed the fears
of beings.
At that time Brahmā and other gods rejoiced in their minds and
together blazoned it forth,
And consequently all worlds call me “Great Striving Hero.”
I awoke to original non-birth, transcended the path of speech,
Obtained liberation from all faults, dissociated myself from causes
and conditions,
And knew emptiness, which is like empty space, and knowledge
concordant with the real character [of things] was born;
Having been freed from all darkness, foremost reality is unsullied.
The destinies [of transmigratory existence] are merely notions and
names, and the Buddha’s characteristics are also the same.

39
 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

Through the power of empowerment this foremost apex of reality

Is explained by means of the written word in order to deliver
the world.

Then Vajradhara, endowed with virtue, and having experienced some-

thing unprecedented, with wide-open eyes bowed his head to the Omnis-
cient One and spoke these verses:

The buddhas are most remarkable, and their expedients and

knowledge are inconceivable;
The spontaneous knowledge of the Dharma-Buddha is free from
all frivolous arguments,
And yet it is taught for the sake of the world and fulfills all wishes.
The characteristics of mantras are likewise always dependent on the
two truths.
Should there be any beings who know this Dharma teaching,
9c Worldlings should worship them just as they would revere a caitya.

Then, when Vajradhara had finished speaking these verses, he gazed

steadily at Vairocana without blinking for even a moment and remained silent.
At this the World-honored One again addressed the vajradhara Lord of
Mysteries, saying, “Next, Lord of Mysteries, the path of samādhi whereby
bodhisattvas who will succeed to the position [of a buddha] after one more
birth dwell in the stage of a buddha is such that they are dissociated from
activity and cognizant of the characteristics of the world, and they dwell in
the stage of action and firmly dwell in the stage of a buddha. Next, Lord of
Mysteries, the path of samādhi for bodhisattvas who have mastered the eighth
stage is such that they do not apprehend any dharmas, they are free from
existence and birth, and they know everything to be an illusory transforma-
tion. Therefore, the world refers to them as ‘masters of vision.’ Next, Lord
of Mysteries, multitudes of śrāvakas, dwelling in the stage with objects [of
cognition], recognize birth and extinction, reject the two extremes [of anni-
hilation and permanence], and with the knowledge of utter observation obtain
the causes of practice that does not conform [with the cycle of transmigra-
tion]: this is called the path of samādhi for śrāvakas. Lord of Mysteries,
pratyekabuddhas, observing cause and result and dwelling in the Dharma
of speechlessness, do not preach and are speechless, and in all dharmas they

40
 Fascicle Two

realize the samādhi of the utter extinction of speech: this is called the path
of samādhi for pratyekabuddhas. Lord of Mysteries, cause and result, as
well as action, in the world at large, whether they arise or perish, do so in
dependence on another entity, and so the samādhi of emptiness is born: this
is called the path of samādhi for world[lings].”
Then the World-honored One spoke these verses:

Lord of Mysteries, you should know that these are the paths of
samādhi:
If one abides in teachings for the World-honored Buddha, the
world-saving bodhisattva,
The pratyekabuddha or the śrāvaka, one will destroy all faults;
In the case of the gods’ mundane path of the teachings of the
mantra method,
The Striving Hero has [taught it] thus in order to benefit beings.

Then the World-honored One addressed the vajradhara Lord of Mys-

teries, saying:
“Lord of Mysteries, you should listen attentively to the characteristics
of mantras.”
Vajrapāṇi said, “Very well, World-honored One. I am eager to listen.”
Thereupon the World-honored One further spoke these verses:

The Fully and Perfectly Awakened One’s mantras are characterized

by syllables, words, and clauses;
As in the school of Indra,31 all objectives are accomplished.
Sometimes Dharma-phrases are added so that the original intent [of
the mantra] and the practice [for which it is used] will correspond.
If [they have] the word oṃ and the word hūṃ, as well as phaṭaka32
Or hrīḥ, these are designations of Buddha-Crowns.
If [they have the words] gṛhṇa (“seize!”), khādaya (“devour!”),
bhañja (“destroy!”),
Hana (“strike!”), māraya (“kill!”), [s]phāṭaya (“rend!”) and the like,
They are the mantras of servant messengers and wrathful ones. 10a
If they have the word namaḥ (“homage”), svāhā, and so on,
These are the marks of [mantras of] practitioners of quiescence
cultivating samādhi.

41
The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

If they have the word śānta (“pacified”), the word viśuddha

(“purified”), and so on,
You should know that they are able to fulfill all wishes:
These are the mantras of Perfectly Awakened Ones, sons of the
Buddha, and world-saviors.
In the case of those expounded by śrāvakas, each single phrase
is set out;
Among these, those of pratyekabuddhas differ slightly again,
For their samādhi is different and purifies karma and [re]birth.

“Furthermore, Lord of Mysteries, these characteristics of mantras are

not something created by all the buddhas, nor did they cause others to cre-
ate them, nor would they rejoice [if others had created them]. Why? Because
this is the Dharma-thusness of dharmas. Therefore, whether the Tathāgatas
appear or whether the Tathāgatas do not appear, dharmas naturally abide
thus. That is to say, mantras are naturally mantras. Lord of Mysteries, when
an all-knowing one and all-seeing one who has accomplished full and per-
fect awakening appears in the world, he teaches various paths by this method;
in accordance with various desires and the various mentalities of beings and
by means of various words, various letters, various regional languages, and
the various sounds of the destinies [of transmigratory existence], he teaches
through empowerment the mantra path.
“Lord of Mysteries, what is the mantra path of the Tathāgatas? It is,
namely, the empowering of these written letters. Lord of Mysteries, with the
words of truth, the four noble truths, the four stations of mindfulness, the
four supernatural faculties, the ten powers of a Tathāgata, the six pāramitās,
the seven precious [limbs] of bodhi, the four Brahmic abodes, and the eight-
een unshared qualities of a buddha that the Tathāgatas have accumulated and
cultivated during immeasurable hundreds of thousands of koṭis of nayutas
of eons—Lord of Mysteries, in short, with the Tathāgatas’ knowledge of an
omniscient one, the power of the own-merit and knowledge of all the Tathā-
gatas, the power of the knowledge of their own vows, and the power of the
empowerment of the entire Dharma realm, and in conformity with the vari-
eties of beings, they reveal the mantra teachings.
“And what are the mantra teachings? They are: the gateway of the let-
ter A, because all dharmas are originally unborn (ādyanutpāda: “original

42
 Fascicle Two

non-arising”); the gateway of the letter Ka, because all dharmas are disso-
ciated from action (kārya); the gateway of the letter Kha, because all dhar-
mas are inapprehensible like empty space (kha); the gateway of the letter
Ga, because all going (gati) is inapprehensible in all dharmas; the gateway
of the letter Gha, because agglomeration (ghana: “compact [mass]”) is inap-
prehensible in all dharmas; the gateway of the letter Ca, because all dhar-
mas are dissociated from all transiency (cyuti: “fall”); the gateway of the let-
ter Cha, because shadows (chāyā) are inapprehensible in all dharmas; the
gateway of the letter Ja, because birth ( jāti) is inapprehensible in all dhar- 10b
mas; the gateway of the letter Jha, because enemies ( jhamala?) are inap-
prehensible in all dharmas; the gateway of the letter Ṭa, because pride (ṭaṅka)
is inapprehensible in all dharmas; the gateway of the letter Ṭ̌ha, because nur-
turing (viṭhapana: “[illusory] creation”) is inapprehensible in all dharmas;
the gateway of the letter Ḍa, because resentment (ḍamara: “riot, tumult”) is
inapprehensible in all dharmas; the gateway of the letter Ḍha, because grasp-
ing (ḍhaṅka?) is inapprehensible in all dharmas; the gateway of the letter
Ta, because thusness (tathatā) is inapprehensible in all dharmas; the gate-
way of the letter Tha, because a dwelling place (sthāna) is inapprehensible
in all dharmas; the gateway of the letter Da, because giving (dāna) is inap-
prehensible in all dharmas; the gateway of the letter Dha, because the Dharma
realm (dharmadhātu) is inapprehensible in all dharmas; the gateway of the
letter Pa, because supreme truth (paramārtha) is inapprehensible in all dhar-
mas; the gateway of the letter Pha, because all dharmas are unsolid and like
foam ( phena); the gateway of the letter Ba, because bondage (bandha) is
inapprehensible in all dharmas; the gateway of the letter Bha, because all
existence (bhava) is inapprehensible in all dharmas; the gateway of the let-
ter Ya, because all vehicles ( yāna) are inapprehensible in all dharmas; the
gateway of the letter Ra, because all dharmas are dissociated from all defile-
ment (rajas); the gateway of the letter La, because all characteristics (lakṣaṇa)
are inapprehensible in all dharmas; the gateway of the letter Va, because the
path of speech (vāc) is cut off in all dharmas; the gateway of the letter Śa,
because all dharmas are originally quiescent by nature (śānti: “quiescence”);
the gateway of the letter Ṣa, because all dharmas are by nature dull (ṣaṭha,
for śaṭha: “fool, blockhead”); the gateway of the letter Sa, because all truths
(satya) are inapprehensible in all dharmas; and the gateway of the letter Ha,

43
 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

because cause (hetu) is inapprehensible in all dharmas. Lord of Mysteries, Ṅa,

Ña, Ṇa, Na, and Ma are sovereign over all samādhis and quickly able to effec-
tuate all deeds, and the objectives of what is undertaken are all accomplished.”
Then the World-honored One spoke these verses:

Mantras, the gateway to samādhi, completely fulfill all wishes,

Namely, the inconceivable results of the Tathāgatas.
Endowed with many excellent vows, the definitive meaning
of mantras
Transcends the three ages and is unsullied, like empty space.
Dwelling in an inconceivable [state of] mind, one performs
various deeds,
And he who reaches the stage of cultivation is granted inconceivable
results.
This is the foremost truth, revealed by the buddhas,
And if one knows this Dharma teaching, one will attain the siddhis.
Sound, which is the supreme truth, mantras, and the characteristics
of mantras—
10c Thinking clearly upon these, the practitioner will obtain the
indestructible state.

Then the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries said to the Buddha, “World-

honored One, the inconceivable method of the path of the characteristics of
mantras taught by the Buddha is remarkable; it is not shared with any śrā-
vakas or pratyekabuddhas, nor is it for all beings everywhere. If one believes
in this mantra path, meritorious dharmas will all be fulfilled. I but beg you,
World-honored One, to explain next the requisite procedures for the maṇḍala.”
When Vajrapāṇi had finished speaking thus, the World-honored One
again addressed him, uttering these verses:

When a mantra-reciting practitioner worships the holy deities,

He should offer up flowers pleasing to the mind, immaculate white,
yellow, or red in color.
The padma (lotus), blue lotus (utpala), dragonflower (nāgakesara),
puṃnāga,
Kesara, malli[kā] (jasmine), tagara, campa[ka],

44
 Fascicle Two

“Sorrowless” (aśoka), tilaka, pāṭala (trumpet flower), and śāla (sal):

These flowers, fresh and exquisite, are auspicious and liked by all.
He gathers them, makes garlands of them, and offers them respectfully.
Candana (sandalwood), costus root (kuṣṭha), spṛkkā,33 saffron
(kuṅkuma),
And other fine unguents—he takes them all and offers them up.
Agallochum (agaru), pine resin (dīpavṛkṣa), vāla, camphor (karpūra),
White sandalwood, the resinous aromatic [sal gum] (sarjarasa),
śrīvāsaka,
And other kinds of incense, fragrant and world-praised,
He should offer up to the holy deities in accordance with the ritual
instructions.
Furthermore, Great Being, he offers foods according to the teachings:
He offers up milk gruel, boiled rice mixed with curds, “joy
[dumplings]” (laḍḍuka), maṇḍaka,
Delicious “hundred-leaved” pastries, pure and wondrous sugared
pastries,
Pūrikā, perforated [pastries], madhuśīr[ṣaka],
Phenaka, “sorrowless” (aśoka[varti]), parpaṭa cakes, and so on—
Delicacies such as these and various exotic fruits,
Khaṇḍa (candied sugar), barley sugar, molasses, honey, fresh butter,
ghee,
Various beverages, and milk and curds from pure cows.
He also offers up lamps in different kinds of new and clean vessels,
Filling them with finely perfumed oils and setting them out
for illumination.
Silken pennants and parasols of various colors are interspersed in
the four quarters,
And the archways, of different shapes and kinds, are hung with bells
large and small.
Alternatively, he makes offerings with the mind, doing all of this:
The mantra-reciting practitioner, mindful, must not forget to do so.
Next, he prepares the kalaśas (flasks), either six or eighteen,
Fitting them out with precious things and drugs and filling them 11a
with perfumed water.

45
The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

With twigs draped with cloth and flowers and fruits inserted
in between,
[The flasks are] adorned with unguents and so on, protected,
and purified,
And their necks are tied with fine cloth; the number of flasks
may be increased.
To each of the leading deities he offers silken garments,
And he offers them to each of the other great beings too.
Having made offerings in this manner, [the ācārya] next inducts
the initiands.
He sprinkles them with purified water, gives them unguent and
flowers,
And makes them generate the bodhi-mind while calling the
Tathāgatas to mind;
They will all attain birth in the pure Buddha’s Family.
He binds the seal “born of the Dharma realm” and the Dharma-
wheel seal,
And uses [the seals of] Vajrasattva and so on to perform
empowerment.
Next he himself should bind the [seal] “samaya of the buddhas”
And empower a clean cloth three times in accordance with the ritual
instructions for mantras,
Which he uses to cover the heads [of the initiands], engendering
deep thoughts of compassion.
Thrice reciting the samaya (pledge), [he visualizes that] they have
on top of their heads the letter Ra,
Adorned with the great dot of emptiness34 (i.e., Raṃ) and encircled
by a wreath of flames:
This letter-gateway emits white light which pours forth like a full
moon.
[Then] facing the world-saviors, [the initiands] scatter their purified
flowers [toward the maṇḍala],
And wherever [his flower] falls, the practitioner reveres [that deity].
By the sentry posts of the great nāgas (i.e., Nanda and Upananda)
in the first entrance of the maṇḍala,

46
 Fascicle Two

In between the two entrances, [the ācārya] installs the trainees,

And stationing them there, he performs the [ritual] deeds in
accordance with the ritual instructions.
Having thus freed the disciples from faults, 11b
He performs the homa of pacification, and when doing homa he
abides by the rules.
He first proceeds from the central matrix to beyond the second
[enclosure],
And in the middle of a maṇḍala, without any doubting thoughts,
He digs an altar of light (i.e., a hearth), like his own forearm35
in diameter,
With its rim four phalanges [high and wide] and its center marked
with a vajra seal.
To the right of the teacher’s position there are the paraphernalia
for homa,
While the trainees reside to his left, squatting with heightened
respect.
He himself spreads auspicious grass (kuśa) on the ground and sits
at ease.
Alternatively [when it is not possible to dig a hearth, he paints one]
with pigments, bright red and most imposingly beautiful—
Anything that is painted will be effective: this is the simplified
homa site.
Around [the hearth] he spreads auspicious grass with the ends
overlapping one another
Toward the right (i.e., clockwise), all wide and thick, and he sprinkles
it all with perfumed water.
Contemplating the honored one Agni out of pity for all,
He should take a full ladle and make oblations to him with it,
And at the same time the well-abiding [ācārya] should utter this
mantra:

Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, agnaye svāhā. (Homage to all

Buddhas! For Agni, svāhā!) [3]

Next, with his left hand [the ācārya] then holds the disciples

47
 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

By the thumb of their right hand and offers up homa in brief.

Each time he makes an oblation, he recites with sincerity [the
following mantra] until he reaches thrice seven [times] for each
[disciple];
He should dwell in thoughts of compassion, the mantra according
with the rules:

Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, āḥ mahāśāntigata śāntikara praśama-

dharmanirjāta abhāvasvabhāvadharmasamatāprāpta svāhā.
(Homage to all Buddhas! Āḥ! O you who have reached great
tranquility! you who bring about tranquility! you who are born of
the dharma of calmness! you who have obtained sameness with
dharmas that have non-being as their intrinsic nature! svāhā!) [4]

When the practitioner has finished doing homa, he should instruct

[the disciples] in making gifts [to him]:
Gold, silver, rare jewels, elephants, horses, and carriages,
Cattle, sheep, choice garments, or again any other goods.
11c The disciples should with utmost sincerity and reverence engender
respect
And, happy from the depths of their hearts, offer these up to [the
ācārya] whom they honor,
For by cultivating pure relinquishment they make him rejoice.
Having performed empowerment for them, he should summon them
and address them, saying:
“Now, this excellent field of merit has been explained by all
the buddhas
Out of their desire to bring extensive benefit to all sentient beings:
If you offer up gifts to the entire sangha, you will obtain great results,
And in worldly terms inexhaustible great wealth will always accrue;
By making offerings to the sangha you make gifts to persons
endowed with virtue.
Therefore the World-honored One has taught that you should
engender joy,
Provide dishes of food according to your ability, and give them to
the sangha actually present.”

48
 Fascicle Two

Then the World-honored One Vairocana again addressed the vajradhara

Lord of Mysteries, uttering these verses:

You, Mahāsattva, should with singlemindedness listen attentively,

As I explain in full the consecration, revealed by buddhas of yore.
The teacher constructs a second altar, facing the central maṇḍala,
And he draws it in the outer precinct two cubits distant [from the
main maṇḍala]:
Its four sides are exactly equal [in length], and he opens an entrance
facing toward the inside.
He installs four vajradharas, placing them outside the four corners:
Namely, Aprapañcavihārin, Gaganāmala,
Vimalanetra, and Vicitrāmbaradhara.
The large lotus flower in the center has eight petals as well as stamens,
And on the petals in the four quarters are four accompanying
bodhisattvas,
There because of the power of the former vows of these great beings.
What are the four called? They are, namely, the bodhisattvas
Dhāraṇīśvara[rāja],
Smṛtisaṃprajanyin, Hitādhyāśayin, and Kāruṇya.
On the other four petals he fashions four servants:
Vicitrāmbara, Āśāparipūraka, Asakta, and Vimukta.
In the center he displays the inconceivable form of the Dharma
realm (i.e., the letter Raṃ).
[Four] flasks made of four precious things, filled with drugs 12a
and jewels,
[The ācārya] empowers with [the mantras of] Samantabhadra,
Maitreya,
[Sarva]nīvaraṇaviṣkambhin, and Sarvāpāyaṃjaha.
At the time of the consecration he should install [the initiand] on the
wondrous lotus [in the center]
And make offerings with unguents, flowers, lamps, and argha;
He shades him from above with banners, pennants, and parasols
and offers up enchanting music
And the extensive and wonderful words of auspicious gāthās.

49
The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

After having made offerings in this manner and brought joy [to
the initiand],
He himself anoints [the initiand’s] head in the presence of the
Tathāgatas.
He should again make him offerings of exquisite unguents and flowers,
After which he should take a golden stylet and, standing in front
of him,
Exhort him and make him rejoice by uttering this gāthā:
“Son of the Buddha, the buddhas have removed your film of
ignorance,
Just as the world’s king of physicians skillfully uses a golden stylet
[to remove the world’s blindness].”
The mantra-reciting practitioner should next take a clear mirror,
And in order to show that dharmas have no [differentiating]
characteristics, he utters this wondrous gāthā:
“The dharmas are formless, pellucid, and without turbidity,
Ungraspable, dissociated from speech, and only arisen from cause
and action.
Knowing thus that these dharmas are by their own nature undefiled,
Act for the incomparable benefit of the world, you who have been
born from the mind of the Buddha!”
Then he should confer [on the initiand] a Dharma wheel, placing it
between his two feet,
And give him a Dharma conch in his right hand, again uttering these
verses:
“From today you turn the wheel of the world-saviors
And blow the unsurpassed Dharma conch, its sound all-pervading.
Do not engender heterodox wisdom, and free from doubting
thoughts,
You should reveal to the world the excellent path for practicing
mantras.
If you always make such a vow and proclaim your indebtedness to
the buddhas,
All the vajradharas will all protect you.”
Then, arousing thoughts of compassion toward the disciple,

50
 Fascicle Two

The practitioner should take him inside [the maṇḍala] and reveal 12b
the samaya verses:
“Son of the Buddha, henceforth, not begrudging of life or limb,
You should never abandon the Dharma, forsake the bodhi-mind,
Be miserly with any dharmas, or do anything that does not benefit
beings.
The Buddha has taught the samaya for you who abide well in the
precepts,
And just as you guard your life, so too should you guard the precepts.”
With utmost sincerity and reverence [the disciple] should bow down
at the feet of the honored [ācārya],
And acting in conformity with the teaching, he must not engender
any doubting thoughts.

Thereupon Vajrapāṇi said to the Buddha, “World-honored One, if any

men of good [family] or women of good [family] enter the samaya of this
great king of maṇḍalas ‘Born of the Matrix of Great Compassion,’ how great
an accumulation of merit will they obtain?”
When Vajrapāṇi had finished speaking thus, the Buddha addressed him,
saying, “Lord of Mysteries, the total accumulation of merit [obtained] from
the initial generation of the [bodhi-]mind through to becoming a Tathāgata
is exactly equivalent to the accumulation of merit by these men of good [fam-
ily] or women of good [family]. Lord of Mysteries, by means of this gate-
way to the Dharma you should know thus: that these men of good [family]
and women of good [family] are children of the Buddha’s mind, born of the
Tathāgata’s mouth. Wherever these men of good [family] and women of
good [family] may be, there is a buddha performing buddha deeds. There-
fore, Lord of Mysteries, should one wish to worship the Buddha, then one
should worship these men of good [family] and women of good [family],
and should one wish to see the Buddha, then one should look at them.”
Then the vajradharas headed by Vajrapāṇi and so on and the bodhi-
sattvas headed by Samantabhadra and so on spoke in unison, saying, “World-
honored One, from now on we shall revere and worship these men of good
[family] and women of good [family]. Why? Because, World-honored One,
seeing these men of good [family] and women of good [family] is the same
as seeing the World-honored Buddha.”

51
 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

Thereupon the World-honored One Vairocana again gazed upon the

entire assembly and addressed the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries and the
other vajradharas, as well as the great multitude, saying, “Good sirs, there
are mantra phrases [born of] the mark of the Tathāgata’s supramundane and
immeasurably vast speech-circle (i.e., tongue), which are like a variegated
maṇi, fulfill all wishes, accumulate immeasurable merit, abide in unimpeded
conduct, and have a power incomparable through the three ages.”
When he had finished speaking thus, Vajrapāṇi, the Lord of Mysteries,
and the other vajradharas, as well as the great assembly, spoke in unison,
saying, “World-honored One, now is the time! Sugata, now is the time!”
12c Thereupon the World-honored One Vairocana dwelled in the samādhi
“Observation from the High Peak of the Pure Dharma Banner,” in which,
fulfilling all wishes, he protruded his vast tongue and completely covered all
buddha fields. Then the Buddha rose from meditation, whereupon he emit-
ted a voice that pervaded the Dharma realm of all Tathāgatas, taking pity on
the realms of beings without exception, and uttered this vidyārājñī “Very Pow-
erful Great Protection”: Namaḥ sarvatathāgatebhyaḥ sarvabhayavigatebhyo36
viśvamukhebhyaḥ, sarvathā haṃ [khaṃ] rakṣa mahābale sarvatathāgata-
puṇyanirjāte hūṃ hūṃ trāṭ trāṭ apratihate svāhā. (Homage to all Tathāgatas,
who are free from all fear and are in all directions! In every way, haṃ [khaṃ],
protect! O you of great strength! you who are born of the merit of all Tathā-
gatas! hūṃ hūṃ trāṭ trāṭ! you who are unimpeded! svāhā!) [5]
Then, as soon as all the Tathāgatas and the multitudes of sons of the
Buddha had uttered this vidyā, buddha fields everywhere shook in six dif-
ferent ways, and all the bodhisattvas, having experienced something unprece-
dented, with wide-open eyes spoke these verses in front of the buddhas with
words pleasing to the mind:

It is most remarkable that the buddhas have uttered this [vidyā]

“Very Powerful Protection”;
The protection by all the buddhas [is like that provided by] a citadel
and moat that are completely impregnable.
If one dwells protecting the mind with it, all obstructors,
Vināyakas, and rākṣasas of evil form
Will all disperse through the power of thinking on the mantra.

52
 Fascicle Two

Then the Bhagavān, having empowered the vast Dharma realm, dwelled
at once in the samādhi “Matrix-Treasury of the Dharma Realm” and, rising
from this state of meditation, uttered the vidyā37 “Entry into the Buddhas’
Samaya”: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, asame trisame samaye svāhā. (Homage
to all Buddhas! O pledge of three equals, without equal! svāhā!) [6]
As soon as he had uttered this vidyā “Entry into the [Buddhas’] Samaya”
in the midst of all the assemblies of bodhisattvas in all buddha fields, the
sons of the Buddha who had heard it together [became so that they] would
no longer transgress any dharmas.
Then the Bhagavān also uttered the mantra “birth in the Dharma realm”:
Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, dharmadhātusvabhāvako ’ham. (Homage to
all Buddhas! I have the intrinsic nature of the Dharma realm.) [7]
The mantra for empowerment by Vajrasattva: Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, 13a
vajrātmako ’ham. (Homage to all Vajras! I am of the nature of a vajra.) [8]
The mantra of adamantine armor: Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, vajrakavaca
hūṃ. (Homage to all Vajras! O adamantine armor! hūṃ!) [9]
The mantra of the Tathāgata’s eye or vision: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,
tathāgatacakṣu vyavalokaya38 svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O Tathāgata’s
eye! behold! svāhā!) [10]
The unguent mantra: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, viśuddhagandhod-
bhava svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who have risen from pure
unguent! svāhā!) [11]
The flower mantra: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, mahāmaitryabhyudgate
svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who have arisen from great benev-
olence! svāhā!) [12]
The incense mantra: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, dharmadhātvanugate
svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who are coextensive with the Dharma
realm! svāhā!) [13]
The food mantra: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, ararakalalabaliṃ39
dadāmi baliṃ dade mahābali svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! I give a food
offering of arara and kalala. I give a food offering. Great food offering!
svāhā!) [14]
The lamp mantra: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, tathāgatārcispharaṇā-
vabhāsanagaganaudārya svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O suffusion of
the Tathāgata’s light, with a brilliance as vast as the firmament! svāhā!) [15]

53
 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

The argha mantra: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, gaganasamāsama svāhā.

(Homage to all Buddhas! O you who are equal to the sky and unequaled!
svāhā!) [16]
The mantra of the Tathāgata’s crown: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,
gaganānantaspharaṇa viśuddhadharmanirjāta svāhā. (Homage to all
Buddhas! O you who infinitely pervade the sky! you who are born of the
pure Dharma! svāhā!) [17]
The mantra of the Tathāgata’s armor: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, vajra-
jvāla visphura hūṃ. (Homage to all Buddhas! O adamantine flame! flash!
hūṃ!) [18]
The mantra of the Tathāgata’s halo: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, jvālā-
mālini tathāgatārci svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who have a wreath
of flames! light of the Tathāgata! svāhā!) [19]
13b The mantra of the Tathāgata’s tongue: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,
mahāmaha tathāgatajihva satyadharmapratiṣṭhita svāhā. (Homage to all
Buddhas! O great among the great! tongue of the Tathāgata! that which is
established in the true Dharma! svāhā!) [20]

54
 Chapter III

The Quelling of Obstacles

Then Vajrapāṇi again questioned the World-honored One Vairocana, utter-

ing these verses:

“When [preparing] the ritual site, how does one eliminate obstructors
So that they are unable to torment the mantra-cultivating practitioner?
How does one recite mantras? What results do they produce?”
When [Vajrapāṇi] had asked these questions, the Honored One
Mahāvairocana exclaimed,
“Excellent, Mahāsattva! You have done well to speak these words.
In keeping with the questions in your mind, I shall now reveal
everything.
Obstructors are born from one’s own mind in accordance with past
avarice.
In order to remove their cause, one thinks on the bodhi-mind,
Which is well removed of false differentiation born from the mind
and thought,
And by recollecting the bodhi-mind, the practitioner will be free
from faults.
One should always think in one’s mind of the mahāsattva Acala
And bind his mystic seal, whereby one will be able to remove all
obstructions.
Lord of Mysteries, listen further how to tie down turbulent wind.
With the letter A transformed into one’s own person, and keeping
the letter-gateway Ha in mind,
One smears gandha (unguent) on the ground to make [seven] great
dots of emptiness.
Positioning oneself in the direction of Vāyu (i.e., northwest), one
covers them with a śarāvam (bowl)

55
 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

And thinks of this vessel as a great mental Mount Meru,

[Visualizing] on top of it time and again the letter A with a great dot
of emptiness (i.e., Aṃ):
Proclaimed by previous buddhas, this is able to arrest great winds.
Great Being, listen attentively to how the practitioner guards against
rain.
He imagines the letter-gateway Ra, very powerful and the color of
fiery light;
Fearsome, wreathed in blazing flames, wrathful, and holding a
khaḍga (sword),
He prepares the ground, creating [figures of] dark clouds in whatever
direction they have arisen,
13c And cuts through them with the wisdom-sword seal: the cloud cover
will promptly disperse.
Alternatively the practitioner, with fearless mind, makes a kīlakam
(stake),
And he completely identifies this adamantine stake with a vajra.
Next, I shall now explain the quelling of all obstacles.
One thinks on the ferocious and very powerful Acala with his mantra
Dwelling in his own maṇḍala, or else the practitioner [himself]
dwells therein.
He visualizes an effigy [of the obstacle] with [Acala’s or his own]
left foot placed on its head:
The obstacle will be eliminated and extinguished, not to arise [again].
Alternatively, having carefully mixed [poison] with rājikā (black
mustard),
The practitioner makes an effigy [of the obstacle] and smears its
body with [the mixture]:
Those [obstacles] who seize one will, on account of this antidote,
Have their sense organs scorched—about this one must not engender
any doubting thoughts.
Even the honored ones Śakra and Brahmā, should they not follow
my teaching,
Will be burned, not to mention other beings.”

56
 Fascicle Two

Thereupon Vajrapāṇi said to the Buddha, “World-honored One, insofar

as I understand the meaning of what the Buddha has said, I too thus know
that, dwelling in their own maṇḍala stations, the holy deities bring about
what is awe-inspiring. Because they dwell in this manner, the Tathāgata’s
injunctions cannot be obfuscated. Why? Because, World-honored One, the
samaya of all mantras is to abide in their own lineage. Therefore, bodhi-
sattvas cultivating bodhisattva practices via the gateway of mantras should
also dwell in their proper station and perform [ritual] deeds.”
[The Bhagavān said, “Lord of Mysteries, it is so, it is as you have said.]40
Moreover, Lord of Mysteries, if colors have been mentioned [for any deities],
you should know that the holy deities’ maṇḍala stations and the deities’
figures are also the same [colors]: this has been taught by previous buddhas.
“Lord of Mysteries, in future ages beings of inferior intelligence and no
faith will, on hearing these explanations, be unable to accept them on faith
because they have no intelligence, and their doubts will increase. If they
merely hear them and remain set in their ways without practicing, they will
harm themselves and harm others, and they will make statements such as
‘Non-Buddhists have such methods, but they were not taught by the Buddha.’
These ignorant people will produce such faith-and-understanding.”
Then the World-honored [One] spoke these verses:

The omniscient World-honored One has gained sovereignty over

dharmas,
And in accordance with what he has mastered, he delivers beings
by expedient means.
This was taught by previous buddhas to bring benefit to those who
seek the Dharma.
The foolish person does not know the characteristic of the dharmas 14a
[as taught] by the buddhas:
I have taught that the characteristic possessed by all dharmas is that
they are all empty.
One should always dwell in mantras and be sure to act with resolve.

57
 Chapter IV

A Treasury of Mantras
in Common Use

Thereupon the vajradharas, with the Lord of Mysteries at their head, and
the host of bodhisattvas, with Samantabhadra at their head, bowed down to
the Buddha Vairocana and, out of a desire to expound in this great king of
maṇḍalas “Born of the Matrix of Great Compassion” the Dharma-phrases
of their mantras, [each] in accordance with the pure gateway to the Dharma
realm that they had mastered, they appealed each in his own words to the
World-honored One [for permission to do so]. Then the World-honored One
empowered them with the indestructible nature of dharmas and addressed
the vajradharas and bodhisattvas, saying, “Good sirs, you should expound,
in accordance with the Dharma realm as you have mastered it, those for-
mulae of truth that cleanse the realms of beings!”
Then the bodhisattva Samantabhadra promptly dwelled in the samādhi
“Adornment of the Buddha’s Sphere” and uttered the mantra of unobstructed
strength: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, samatānugata virajadharmanirjāta
mahāmaha svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who have attained equal-
ity! you who are born of the unsoiled Dharma! great among the great!
svāhā!) [21]
Then the bodhisattva Maitreya dwelled in the samādhi “Generation of
Universal Great Benevolence” and uttered his own heart-mantra: Namaḥ
samantabuddhānāṃ, ajitaṃjaya sarvasattvāśayānugata svāhā. (Homage to
all Buddhas! O you who vanquish the unvanquished! you who follow the
inclinations of all beings! svāhā!) [22]
Then the bodhisattva Ākāśagarbha entered the samādhi “Sphere of
Purity” and uttered his own heart-mantra: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,
ākāśasamatānugata vicitrāmbaradhara svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O
you who have attained equality with space! you who wear a many-colored
raiment! svāhā!) [23]

59
 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

Then the bodhisattva Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin entered the samādhi

“Power of Compassion” and uttered [this] mantra: Namaḥ samantabud-
dhānāṃ, āḥ sattvahitābhyudgata traṃ traṃ raṃ raṃ svāhā. (Homage to all
Buddhas! Āḥ! O you who have arisen for the weal of beings! traṃ traṃ raṃ
raṃ! svāhā!)41 [24]
Then the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara entered the samādhi “Universal
Gaze” and uttered his own heart[-mantra] and the mantras of his attendants:
Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, sarvatathāgatāvalokita karuṇāmaya ra ra [ra]
hūṃ jaḥ svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O gaze of all Tathāgatas!42 that
which is formed of compassion! ra ra [ra] hūṃ jaḥ! svāhā!) [25]
14b The mantra of Mahāsthāmaprāpta: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, jaṃ
jaṃ saḥ svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! Jaṃ jaṃ saḥ! svāhā!) [26]
The mantra of the honored one Tārā: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,
karuṇodbhave tāre tāriṇi svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who have
risen from compassion! Tārā! savioress! svāhā!) [27]
The mantra of Great Bhṛkuṭī: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, sarvabhaya-
trāsani hūṃ sphoṭaya svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who frighten
away all fears! hūṃ! rend! svāhā!) [28]
The mantra of the honored one Pāṇḍaravāsinī: Namaḥ samanta-
buddhānāṃ, tathāgataviṣayasaṃbhave padmamālini svāhā. (Homage to all
Buddhas! O you who are born from the sphere of the Tathāgatas! you who
have a garland of lotuses! svāhā!) [29]
The mantra of Hayagrīva: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, hūṃ khāda
bhañja sphoṭaya svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! Hūṃ! devour! shatter!
rend! svāhā!) [30]
Then the bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha dwelled in the samādhi “Sphere of
Adamantine Indestructible Conduct” and uttered [this] mantra: Namaḥ
samantabuddhānāṃ, ha ha ha sutanu svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! Ha
ha ha! O you with a beautiful body! svāhā!) [31]
Then the youth Mañjuśrī dwelled in the samādhi “Supernatural Power
of the Buddha’s Empowerment” and uttered his own heart-mantra: Namaḥ
samantabuddhānāṃ, he he kumāraka vimuktipathasthita smara smara prati-
jñāṃ svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! Ho! ho! young boy! you who abide
on the path to liberation! remember, remember your vow! svāhā!) [32]
Then Vajrapāṇi dwelled in the samādhi “Great Adamantine Invincibility”

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 Fascicle Two

and uttered his own heart[-mantra] and the mantras of his attendants: Namaḥ
samantavajrāṇāṃ, caṇḍamahāroṣaṇa hūṃ. (Homage to all Vajras! O you
who are violent and very wrathful! hūṃ!) [33]
The mantra of Māmakī: Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, triṭ triṭ jayanti svāhā.
(Homage to all Vajras! Triṭ triṭ! O victress! svāhā!) [34]
The mantra of Vajraśṛṅkhalā: Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, bandha ban-
dhaya moṭa moṭaya vajrodbhave sarvatrāpratihate svāhā. (Homage to all 14c
Vajras! Bind, bind! crush, crush! O you who have risen from the vajra! you
who are everywhere unimpeded! svāhā!) [35]
The mantra of Vajracandratilaka (= Krodhacandratilaka): Namaḥ samanta-
vajrāṇāṃ, hrīḥ hūṃ phaṭ svāhā. (Homage to all Vajras! Hrīḥ hūṃ phaṭ!
svāhā!) [36]
The mantra of Vajrasūcī: Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, sarvadharma-
nirvedhani vajrasūci varade svāhā. (Homage to all Vajras! O you who
pierce all dharmas! Adamantine Needle [Vajrasūcī]! you who grant wishes!
svāhā!) [37]
The mantra of all vajradharas: Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, hūṃ hūṃ hūṃ
phaṭ phaṭ phaṭ jaṃ jaṃ svāhā. (Homage to all Vajras! Hūṃ hūṃ hūṃ phaṭ
phaṭ phaṭ jaṃ jaṃ! svāhā!) [38]
The mantra of all servants: Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, he he kiṃ cirāyasi
gṛhṇa gṛhṇa khāda khāda paripūraya svapratijñāṃ svāhā. (Homage to all
Vajras! Ho! ho! why do you procrastinate? Seize, seize! devour, devour!
fulfill your vow! svāhā!) [39]
Then the World-honored One Śākyamuni entered the samādhi “Place
of Jewels” and uttered his own heart[-mantra] and the mantras of his atten-
dants: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, sarvakleśaniṣūdana sarvadharma-
vaśitāprāpta gaganasamāsama svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who
destroy all defilements! you who have won control over all dharmas! you
who are equal to the sky and unequaled! svāhā!) [40]
The mantra of Ūrṇā: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, varade varaprāpte
hūṃ. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who grant wishes! you who have won
a boon! hūṃ!) [41]
The mantra of all Buddha-Crowns: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, vaṃ 15a
vaṃ vaṃ hūṃ hūṃ phaṭ svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! Vaṃ vaṃ vaṃ hūṃ
hūṃ phaṭ! svāhā!) [42]

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

The mantra of Aparājita: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, dhriṃ dhriṃ riṃ

riṃ jriṃ jriṃ svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! Dhriṃ dhriṃ riṃ riṃ jriṃ
jriṃ! svāhā!) [43]
The mantra of Aparājitā: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, aparājite jayanti
taḍite svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O Invincible One [Aparājitā]! vic-
tress! you who strike! svāhā!) [44]
The mantra of Pṛthivī: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, pṛthivyai svāhā.
(Homage to all Buddhas! For Earth [Pṛthivī], svāhā!) [45]
The mantra of Viṣṇu: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, viṣṇave svāhā.
(Homage to all Buddhas! For Viṣṇu, svāhā!) [46]
The mantra of Rudra: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, rudrāya svāhā.
(Homage to all Buddhas! For Rudra, svāhā!) [47]
The mantra of Vāyu: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, vāyave svāhā.
(Homage to all Buddhas! For Vāyu, svāhā!) [48]
The mantra of Sarasvatī: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, sarasvatyai svāhā.
(Homage to all Buddhas! For Sarasvatī, svāhā!) [49]
The mantra of Nairṛti: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, rākṣasādhipataye
svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! For the Lord of Goblins [= Nairṛti],
svāhā!) [50]
The mantra of Yama: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, vaivasvatāya svāhā.
(Homage to all Buddhas! For Vaivasvata [“Son of Vivasvat” = Yama],
svāhā!) [51]
The mantra of Mṛtyu: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, mṛtyave svāhā.
(Homage to all Buddhas! For Death [Mṛtyu], svāhā!) [52]
The mantra of Kālarātri: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, kālarātriye svāhā.
(Homage to all Buddhas! For Dark Night [Kālarātri], svāhā!) [53]
The mantra of the Seven Mothers: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, mātṛb-
hyaḥ svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! For the Mothers, svāhā!) [54]
15b The mantra of Śakra Devendra: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, śakrāya
svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! For Śakra, svāhā!) [55]
The mantra of the nāga king Varuṇa: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, apāṃ-
pataye svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! For the Lord of Water [= Varuṇa],
svāhā!) [56]
The mantra of Brahmā: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, prajāpataye svāhā.
(Homage to all Buddhas! For the Lord of Creatures [= Brahmā], svāhā!) [57]

62
 Fascicle Two

The mantra of Āditya: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, ādityāya svāhā.

(Homage to all Buddhas! For Sun [Āditya], svāhā!) [58]
The mantra of Candra: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, candrāya svāhā.
(Homage to all Buddhas! For Moon [Candra], svāhā!) [59]
The mantra of the nāgas: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, meghāśaniye
svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! For the Cloud-Eater,43 svāhā!) [60]
The mantra of Nanda and Upananda: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, nan-
dopanandayoḥ svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! For Nanda and Upananda,
svāhā!) [61]
Then the World-honored One Vairocana, wishing to explain that his
teachings are of infallible siddhi, [uttered] the mantra of the vidyārājñī
Gaganalocanā, mother of all buddhas and bodhisattvas: Namaḥ samanta-
buddhānāṃ, gaganavaralakṣaṇe gaganasame sarvatodgatābhisārasaṃ-
bhave jvala, namo ’moghānāṃ svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who
have the excellent attributes of the sky! you who are equal to the sky! you
who are born from gifts arisen everywhere! burn! homage to the infallible
ones! svāhā!) [62]
Next, in order to quell all obstacles, the Bhagavān dwelled in the samādhi
“Born of Fire” and uttered this mantra of the great destroyer of obstacles,
the holy one Acalanātha: Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, caṇḍamahāroṣaṇa spho-
ṭaya hūṃ traka hāṃ māṃ. (Homage to all Vajras! O you who are violent and
very wrathful! rend! hūṃ traka hāṃ māṃ!) [63]
Next, the mantra of Trailokyavijaya: Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, ha ha
ha vismaye sarvatathāgataviṣayasaṃbhava trailokyavijaya hūṃ jaḥ svāhā.
(Homage to all Vajras! Ha ha ha! O wondrous one! you who are born from
the sphere of all Tathāgatas! Conqueror of the Three Worlds [Trailokyavi-
jaya]! hūṃ jaḥ! svāhā!) [64]
The mantra of śrāvakas: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, hetupratya[ya]- 15c
vigatakarmanirjāta hūṃ. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who are born of
action free from causes and conditions! hūṃ!) [65]
The mantra of pratyekabuddhas: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, vaḥ.
(Homage to all Buddhas! Vaḥ!) [66]
The heart-mantra common to all buddhas and bodhisattvas: Namaḥ
samantabuddhānāṃ, sarvabuddhabodhisattvahṛdayanyāveśani, namaḥ sar-
vavide svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who cause to enter into the

63
 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

heart of all buddhas and bodhisattvas! homage to the omniscient one!

svāhā!) [67]
The heart-mantra common to mundane gods and so on: Namaḥ samanta-
buddhānāṃ, lokālokakarāya sarvadevanāgayakṣagandharvāsuragaruḍa-
kiṃnaramahoragādihṛdayāny ākarṣaya vicitragati svāhā. (Homage to all
Buddhas! For the sake of illuminating the world! draw in the hearts of all
gods, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas, kiṃnaras, mahoragas,
and so on! O you who move in manifold ways! svāhā!) [68]
The mantra of all buddhas:44 Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, sarvathā vimati-
vikiraṇa dharmadhātunirjāta saṃ saṃ ha svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas!
O you who dispel doubt in every way! you who are born of the Dharma
realm! saṃ saṃ ha! svāhā!) [69]
16a The mantra of the gatekeeper Durdharṣa: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,
durdharṣa mahāroṣaṇa khādaya sarvāṃ tathāgatājñāṃ kuru svāhā. (Homage
to all Buddhas! O Inviolable One [Durdharṣa]! very wrathful one! devour!
perform every command of the Tathāgata! svāhā!) [70]
The mantra of the gatekeeper Abhimukha: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,
he mahāpracaṇḍābhimukha gṛhṇa khādaya kiṃ cirāyasi samayam anusmara
svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! Ho! O you who are very violent! you who
face [Durdharṣa]! seize! devour! why do you procrastinate? remember your
pledge! svāhā!) [71]
The mantra for binding the greater boundary [of the maṇḍala]: Namaḥ
samantabuddhānāṃ, sarvatrānugate bandhaya sīmāṃ mahāsamayanirjāte
smaraṇe apratihate dhaka dhaka cara cara bandha bandha daśadiśaṃ sarva-
tathāgatānujñāte pravaradharmalabdhavijaye bhagavati vikuri vikule le lu
puri [vikuli] svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who are all-pervading!
bind the boundary! you who are born of the great pledge! you who remem-
ber! you who are unimpeded! burn, burn! move, move! bind, bind the ten
directions! you who are authorized by all Tathāgatas! victorious one who
has obtained the most excellent Dharma! Blessed One! vikuri vikule le lu
puri [vikuli]! svāhā!) [72]
The mantra of bodhi: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, a. (Homage to all
Buddhas! A!) [73]
The mantra of practice: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, ā. (Homage to all
Buddhas! Ā!) [74]

64
 Fascicle Two

The mantra of the attainment of bodhi: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,

aṃ. (Homage to all Buddhas! Aṃ!) [75]
The mantra of nirvana: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, aḥ. (Homage to all
Buddhas! Aḥ!) [76]
The mantra of Trailokyavijaya: Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, hā. (Homage
to all Vajras! Hā!) [77]
The mantra of Acalanātha: Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, hāṃ. (Homage
to all Vajras! Hāṃ!) [78]
The mantra of [Sarva]nīvaraṇaviṣkambhin: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,
aḥ. [79 = 76]
The mantra of Avalokiteśvara: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, saḥ.
(Homage to all Buddhas! Saḥ!) [80]
The mantra of Vajrapāṇi: Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, vaḥ. (Homage to
all Vajras! Vaḥ!) [81]
The mantra of Mañjuśrī: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, maṃ. (Homage 16b
to all Buddhas! Maṃ!) [82]
The mantra of Gaganalocanā: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, gaṃ.
(Homage to all Buddhas! Gaṃ!) [83]
The mantra of the Dharma realm: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, raṃ.
(Homage to all Buddhas! Raṃ!) [84]
The mantra of Mahāvīra: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, khaṃ. (Homage
to all Buddhas! Khaṃ!) [85]
The mantra of Jalendra: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, jaṃ. (Homage to
all Buddhas! Jaṃ!) [86]
The mantra of the honored one Tārā: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, taṃ.
(Homage to all Buddhas! Taṃ!) [87]
The mantra of Bhṛkuṭī: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, bhṛḥ. (Homage to
all Buddhas! Bhṛḥ!) [88]
The mantra of Mahāsthāmaprāpta: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, saṃ.
(Homage to all Buddhas! Saṃ!) [89]
The mantra of the honored one Pāṇḍaravāsinī: Namaḥ samanta-
buddhānāṃ, paṃ. (Homage to all Buddhas! Paṃ!) [90]
The mantra of Hayagrīva: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, haṃ. (Homage
to all Buddhas! Haṃ!) [91]

65
 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

The mantra of Yaśodharā: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, yaṃ. (Homage

to all Buddhas! Yaṃ!) [92]
The mantra of Ratnakara:45 Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, saṃ. [93 = 89]
The mantra of Jālinīprabha: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, jāṃ. (Homage
to all Buddhas! Jāṃ!) [94]
The mantra of Śākyamuni: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, bhaḥ.46 (Homage
to all Buddhas! Bhaḥ!) [95]
The mantra of the Three Buddha-Crowns: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,
hūṃ ṭruṃ.47 (Homage to all Buddhas! Hūṃ ṭruṃ!) [96]
The mantra of Sitātapatroṣṇīṣa: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, laṃ.
(Homage to all Buddhas! Laṃ!) [97]
The mantra of Jayoṣṇīṣa: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, śaṃ. (Homage
to all Buddhas! Śaṃ!) [98]
The mantra of Vijayoṣṇīṣa: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, si. (Homage
to all Buddhas! Si!) [99]
The mantra of Tejorāśyuṣṇīṣa: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, triṃ.
(Homage to all Buddhas! Triṃ!) [100]
The mantra of Vikiraṇoṣṇīṣa: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, hruṃ.
(Homage to all Buddhas! Hruṃ!) [101]
The mantra of Lokavidyārājñī: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, taṃ haṃ
16c paṃ haṃ yaṃ. (Homage to all Buddhas! Taṃ haṃ paṃ haṃ yaṃ!) [102]
The mantra of Aparājita: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, hūṃ. (Homage
to all Buddhas! Hūṃ!) [103]
The mantra of Pṛthivī: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, bi. (Homage to all
Buddhas! Bi!) [104]
The mantra of Keśinī: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, kili. (Homage to all
Buddhas! Kili!) [105]
The mantra of Upakeśinī: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, dili. (Homage
to all Buddhas! Dili!) [106]
The mantra of the young Citrā: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, mili.
(Homage to all Buddhas! Mili!) [107]
The mantra of the young Vasumatī: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, hili.
(Homage to all Buddhas! Hili!) [108]
The mantra of Kautūhala: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, hasanaṃ.
(Homage to all Buddhas! Laughter.) [109]

66
 Fascicle Two

The mantra of Sarvasattvābhayaṃdada: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,

rasanaṃ. (Homage to all Buddhas! Tasting.) [110]
The mantra of Sarvāpāyaṃjaha: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, dhvaṃsa-
naṃ. (Homage to all Buddhas! Destruction.) [111]
The mantra of Paritrāṇāśayamati: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,
vihasanaṃ. (Homage to all Buddhas! Smiling.) [112]
The mantra of Mahāmaitryabhyudgata: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,
ṭhaṃ. (Homage to all Buddhas! ȟaṃ!) [113]
The mantra of Mahākaruṇāmṛḍita: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, yaṃ.
[114 = 92]
The mantra of Sarvadāhapraśāmin: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, ī.
(Homage to all Buddhas! Ī!) [115]
The mantra of Acintyamati: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, u. (Homage
to all Buddhas! U!) [116]
The mantra of Ratnākara: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, daṃ. (Homage
to all Buddhas! Daṃ!) [117]
The mantra of Ratnapāṇi: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, ṣaṃ. (Homage
to all Buddhas! Ṣaṃ!) [118]
The mantra of Dharaṇiṃdhara: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, ṅaṃ.
(Homage to all Buddhas! Ṅaṃ!) [119]
Then there is the following mantra:48 Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, jaṃ.
[120 = 86]
The mantra of Ratnamudrāhasta: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, phaṃ.
(Homage to all Buddhas! Phaṃ!) [121]
The mantra of Dṛḍhādhyāśaya: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, ṇaṃ. 17a
(Homage to all Buddhas! Ṇaṃ!) [122]
The mantra of Gaganāmala: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, haṃ. [123 = 91]
The mantra of Gaganamati: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, riṃ. (Homage
to all Buddhas! Riṃ!) [124]
The mantra of Viśuddhamati: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, gataṃ.
(Homage to all Buddhas! Going.) [125]
The mantra of Cāritramati: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, dhiraṃ.
(Homage to all Buddhas! Dhiraṃ!) [126]
The mantra of Sthiramati: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, hūṃ. [127 =
103]

67
 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

The mantra of servants: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, dhi śri haṃ braṃ.

(Homage to all Buddhas! Dhi śri haṃ braṃ!) [128]
The mantra expounded by bodhisattvas: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,
kṣaḥ ḍa ra yaṃ kaṃ. (Homage to all Buddhas! Kṣaḥ ḍa ra yaṃ kaṃ!) [129]
The mantra of the gods of Pure Abode (Śuddhāvāsa): Namaḥ samanta-
buddhānāṃ, manorama dharmasaṃbhava vibhavaka[tha]na saṃ saṃ svāhā.
(Homage to all Buddhas! O delightful one! you who are born from the
Dharma! you who speak with dignity! saṃ saṃ! svāhā!) [130]
The mantra of rākṣasas: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, kraṃ keri.
(Homage to all Buddhas! Kraṃ keri!) [131]
The mantra of ḍākinīs: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, hrīḥ haḥ. (Homage
to all Buddhas! Hrīḥ haḥ!) [132]
The mantra of yakṣiṇīs: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, yakṣavidyādhari.
(Homage to all Buddhas! O you who hold the yakṣas’ spell!) [133]
The mantra of piśācas: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, pici pici. (Homage
to all Buddhas! Pici pici!) [134]
The mantra of bhūtas: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, guṃ ī guṃ i
maṃsane.49 (Homage to all Buddhas! Guṃ ī guṃ i maṃsane!) [135]
The mantra of asuras: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, raṭaṃ raṭaṃ dhvan-
taṃ vra pra. (Homage to all Buddhas! Howled, howled, roared, vra pra!) [136]
The mantra of mahoragas: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, garalaṃ gara-
laṃ. (Homage to all Buddhas! Poison, poison.) [137]
17b The mantra of kiṃnaras: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, hasanaṃ vihasa-
naṃ. (Homage to all Buddhas! Laughter, smiling.) [138]
The mantra of humans (manuṣya): Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, icchā-
paraṃ manomaye me svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! That which is intent
upon desire, O you who consist of mind! for me, svāhā!) [139]
“Lord of Mysteries, I have finished proclaiming all these mantras. You
should listen attentively [now] to the essence of all these mantras: it is the
letter-gateway A. Thinking on this essence of all mantras is quite unsur-
passed: it is where all mantras reside, and herein do mantras obtain certainty
[of efficacy].”

[End of] Fascicle Two of the Scripture of the

Enlightenment, Supernatural Transformations,
and Empowerment of Mahāvairocana

68
 Fascicle Three

Chapter V

Mundane Accomplishment

Thereupon the World-honored One again addressed the vajradhara Lord of

Mysteries, uttering these verses:50

[If one practices] in accordance with the mantra teachings, one will
accomplish that result.
The letter should intercorrespond with the letter, and the base
likewise with the base.
Performing mental visualization, one recites [the mantra], well abiding,
one lakṣa (one hundred thousand) [times].
The first “letter” is the bodhi-mind, and the second is called “sound.”
One thinks of the [first] “base” as one’s deity and locates it in one’s
own person;
The second “base” one should know to be the excellent base of the
buddhas.
The practitioner visualizes residing there a lunar disc, quite round
and clear,
In the middle of which he conscientiously contemplates the letters
[of the mantra] in their proper order,
Placing the letters and words in the center and imagining that he
purifies his life.
By “life” is meant “wind,” and his thoughts follow the breath going
out and coming in.
Having purified these, he performs the rite of preliminary recitation.
The well-abiding mantrin next recites for one month, 17c

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The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

And in [this] preliminary expedient means the practitioner masters

each base.
The buddhas of great renown have taught that this is the preliminary
recitation.
Next, in accordance with what he has, he should offer up unguent,
flowers, and so on,
And for the sake of accomplishing perfect awakening he redirects
[the merit thereof] to his own bodhi.
In this manner within two months the mantra[-practitioner] will
become fearless.
Then, having completed this [second] month, the practitioner
engages in recitation [proper].
A mountain peak or a cow pen, river sandbars,51
Crossroads, a chamber, a hallowed chamber, or the chamber of a
great god:
The maṇḍala site is [made] completely like an adamantine palace,
And having bound and protected the site, the practitioner performs
[rites of] accomplishment.
In the middle of the night or when the sun rises
The wise person should know that there may appear signs such as
these:
A voice [saying] “Hūṃ,” or the sound of a drum, or again the shaking
of the earth,
And he may hear words pleasing to the mind in empty space.
He should know that with signs such as these siddhi will be all
as he wishes.52
The buddhas, honored among two-legged beings, have proclaimed
the result:
If one dwells in this mantra practice, one will most certainly become
a buddha.
One should in every way always keep the mantra in mind:
Buddhas of yore, great seers, have taught [thus], and therefore one
should recollect it.

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 Chapter VI

The Manifestation of Siddhi

Thereupon the World-honored One again gazed upon the entire great assem-
bly and, wishing to fulfill all wishes, again expounded Dharma-phrases for
the consummation of knowledge determined by immeasurable gateways
throughout the three ages.

Empty space is unsullied, without own-nature,

and bestows various kinds of skillful knowledge;
Because its own-nature is originally always empty,
it is dependently arisen, most profound, and difficult to see,
And in special progress over a long period of time
it grants the unsurpassed result as desired.
For example, just as dwellings in all destinies,
although dependent on empty space, are not attached to it,
So too is this pure Dharma like that,
and the three existences53 without exception are born pure.
Because the excellent-born, the imposing one, of yore cultivated this,
he acquired the conduct of all Tathāgatas.
There is no other state that is as difficult to obtain, 18a
and it completely illuminates the world just like the
World-honored One.
The method of most pure cultivation has been explained,
profound, vast, inexhaustible, and free from differentiation.

Then, when the World-honored One Vairocana had spoken these verses,
he surveyed the entire great assembly of Vajrapāṇi and so on and addressed
the vajradharas, saying, “Good sirs, you should each reveal phrases from
which siddhi emanates through the supernatural power of the Dharma realm,
such that beings, if thus seeing the Dharma,54 will dance for joy and attain a
state of happiness.”

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The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

When he had finished speaking thus, the vajradharas made obeisance

to the World-honored One Vairocana, [saying,] “So be it, O Dharma Lord,
as you have commanded!” And they made a request of the Buddha, saying,
“We beg you, World-honored One, to have pity on us and reveal the phrases
from which siddhi emanates. Why? It would not be proper for us ourselves
to proclaim in the presence of the Honored Bhagavān the Dharma as mas-
tered by each of us. Verily, World-honored One, it is only because we wish
for the weal and happiness of future beings.”
Thereupon the Bhagavān Vairocana addressed all the vajradharas, say-
ing, “Excellent, excellent, good sirs! The Vinaya of the Dharma taught by
the Tathāgata extols one dharma, namely, having modesty. If a man of good
[family] or a woman of good [family] who has modesty thus sees the Dharma,
two things will quickly occur: namely, they will not do what should not be
done and they will be extolled by all. There are two further things [that will
occur]: namely, they will attain what they have not yet attained and they will
gain association with buddhas and bodhisattvas. There are two further things
[that will occur]: namely, they will abide in śīla and they will be born among
humans and gods. Now then, listen attentively and consider it carefully as I
proclaim the phrases correspondent to the emanation of the accomplishment
of mantras, phrases correspondent to emanation in which bodhisattvas cul-
tivating bodhi via the gateway of mantras will quickly obtain mantra siddhi.
“If the practitioner sees a maṇḍala, is certified by a venerable [teacher],
accomplishes mantras,55 generates the bodhi-mind, has deep faith and com-
passion, is without miserliness, dwells in the subjugation [of the passions],
is well able to analyze how things arise from conditions, observes the pro-
hibitory precepts, is well established in various disciplines, is possessed of
skillful expedient means, is intrepid, knows the [proper] time and the wrong
time [for doing something], readily makes gifts, has no fear in his mind, dili-
gently cultivates mantra practices, has mastered the real meaning of mantras,
always delights in sitting in meditation, and delights in performing [rites of]
accomplishment[, he will indeed have success with mantras].
“Lord of Mysteries, in the realm of desire, for example, there is Īśvara’s
vidyā ‘Delighting and Satisfying the Mind’: the gods in all the places of
desire become intoxicated by it, producing many fine and sundry kinds of
merriment as well as manifesting various sundry kinds of enjoyment and full

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 Fascicle Three

enjoyment, and they give what they have magically transformed to the Para-
nirmitavaśavartin gods and so on and also enjoy it themselves.
“Again, good sirs, the god Maheśvara, for example, has a vidyā ‘Born
from the Excellent Mind’: he is able to do benefit for beings throughout the
triple thousand great thousand world-system, creating every enjoyment and 18b
full enjoyment, and he gives them to the gods of Pure Abode (Śuddhāvāsa)
and also enjoys them himself.
“Again, the mantras of an illusionist, for example, are able to manifest
various gardens, woods, people, and things; the mantras of asuras, for exam-
ple, produce illusory transformations; worldly magical arts, for example,
counteract poison as well as fever and so on; the mantras of the Mātṛs (Moth-
ers) are able to inflict epidemics and pestilences on beings; and mundane
magical arts eliminate poisons as well as chills and fever and so on, and can
transform a blazing fire, producing refreshing coolness [in its place].
“Therefore, good sirs, you should have faith in the potency of the mantras
of these phrases of emanation. This potency of mantras does not come from
within mantras, nor does it enter beings, nor can it be apprehended in the
reciter himself. Good sirs, because of the mantras’ power of empowerment
it arises naturally, and there is nothing that is passed over by it because it
transcends the three ages and because of the most profound and inconceiv-
able principle of dependent arising.56 Therefore, good sirs, you should fol-
low and master Dharma-nature, which is inconceivable, and never discon-
tinue the mantra path.”
Then the World-honored One dwelled in the samādhi “Treasury of the
Purity of Adornments,” the support of power unimpeded throughout the three
ages and the support of the inconceivable power of the Tathāgata’s empow-
erment, whereupon the World-honored One emitted from within samāpatti
inexhaustible manifestations of speech in inexhaustible realms. On the basis
of the power of the Dharma realm, unequaled power, and the faith-and-under-
standing of the Perfectly and Fully Awakened One, there flowed forth from
a single sound the four stations [of the letter A], which pervaded the entire
Dharma realm and were coextensive with empty space, and there was nowhere
not reached by them. The mantra is: Namaḥ sarvatathāgatebhyo viśvamukhe-
bhyaḥ, sarvathā a ā aṃ aḥ. (Homage to all Tathāgatas in all directions! In
every way, a ā aṃ aḥ!) [140]

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

As soon as the heart[-mantra] of the Perfectly and Fully Awakened One

had spread everywhere from this [mantra], the vocal gateways of the entire
Dharma realm mutually sounded forth from the sound symbolic of the Per-
fectly and Fully Awakened One. When the bodhisattvas heard this, having
experienced something unprecedented, with wide-open eyes they uttered
sublime words and spoke these verses in front of the Omniscient One who
is free from torment:

“How marvelous is mantra practice, able to endow vast knowledge!

If pervaded by it, one becomes a buddha, honored among two-
legged beings.
Therefore one should strive energetically with regard to the essence
of the buddhas’ speech
And always perform uninterrupted practice, purifying the mind
and free from self.”
Then the Bhagavān further spoke these Dharma-phrases:
“He who would attain accomplishment in the heart[-mantras] of the
Perfectly and Fully Awakened One
18c Should, in a park, a monastery, or inside a cave,
Or anywhere delightful to the mind, observe the bodhi-mind
Until he reaches the first abode of repose, without engendering a
doubting mind.
He takes any one of the heart[-mantras A, Ā, Aṃ, or Aḥ], places that
heart[-mantra] on his heart,
And realizes the state of utter purity, unsullied, stable, unmoving,
Nondifferentiating like a mirror, and very subtle in its manifestation.
If he always meditates, practices, and intercorresponds [with the deity],
Then his own deity and the image of his own person will both
appear [as one].
As for the second base of the Perfectly Awakened One, in a
mirror[like] maṇḍala (circle),
On a seat of the great king of lotus flowers [the Buddha] dwells
deeply absorbed in samādhi,
Wearing a crown of hair done in a topknot and surrounded by
immeasurable light;

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 Fascicle Three

He is free from false attachment and [false] differentiation and is

originally quiescent, like empty space.
Meditating on this, [the practitioner] recites with his mind
concentrated,
And for one month he cultivates mental equipoise, reciting a full
one lakṣa [times].
These are the rules for reciting mantras during the first month.
Next, in the second month, he offers up unguent, flowers, and so on,
Thereby bringing benefit to various kinds of beings,
And then during another [third] month he renounces all profit,
At which time he is able to meditate freely in [a state of] yoga.
He wishes all to be without obstruction and [he wishes] to make
living beings happy;
He desires to accomplish the perfect result extolled by the Tathāgatas
And to fulfill the many wishes of all sentient beings.
In accord with reason and without any obscuration, he engenders
this notion:
‘May the sufferings of animals devouring each other be forever
removed!
May the realms of [hungry] ghosts be always all filled with food
and drink!
The experiences of suffering and the various torments of those in
hell—
I wish them to be quickly eliminated through my merit.’
And repeatedly thinking in his mind of other immeasurable gateways,
He generates vast compassion, and with the threefold statement
of empowerment
He gives thought to all and mentally recites the mantra: 19a
‘On account of the power of my merit, the power of the Tathāgata’s
empowerment,
And the power of the Dharma realm pervading the realms of beings,
May the objectives that they seek all be beneficial to them
And may whatever they think of be all accomplished as appropriate!’”

At this the Bhagavān then uttered the vidyārājñī “Equal to Empty Space
in Power and Proceeding from the Treasury of Empty Space (Gaganagañja)”:

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The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

Namaḥ sarvatathāgatebhyo viśvamukhebhyaḥ, sarvathā khamudgate

spharahīmaṃ gaganakaṃ57 svāhā. (Homage to all Tathāgatas in all direc-
tions! O you who have come forth from space in every way! Spread through
this sky! svāhā!) [141]
“If one recites this three times, everything will be accomplished in accor-
dance with whatever good wishes one has made.

At the full of the moon the practitioner next engages in the

performance of recitation,
On a mountain peak, inside a cow pen, in a cemetery, or on a river
sandbar,
At a crossroads, at the foot of a solitary tree, or in a shrine of the
Mātṛs.
With everything the color of the vajra (i.e., yellow), solemnly
purified, and like a vajra,
The obstructors inside [this maṇḍala] are subjugated, their minds
confused.
It is square right around with one entrance and a passageway;
Vajras are linked together [around the perimeter] in the manner of
an adamantine coupling.
In the entrances58 are the two guards Durdharṣa and Abhimukha,
Pointing their hands with the [index] fingers raised [menacingly],
their eyes red, and wrathful in appearance.
[The practitioner] carefully draws in the corners the seals of a śūla
(trident) with fiery light;
In the center is a fine adamantine seat, correctly aligned with the
[four] quarters,
On top of which is a large lotus flower with eight petals and spread
with stamens.
He should bind the adamantine wisdom seal of Vajrapāṇi,
And bowing down to all the buddhas, he repeatedly makes firm
his vows,
And he should protect the site and purify the drug or [other] article
[to be effectuated].
That night he recites, pure and unobstructed;

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 Fascicle Three

Either in the middle watch of the night or when the sun rises,
The drug or [other] article will be transformed with a circle of light
shining brightly all around.
Taking it himself, the mantrin will roam about the open sky, 19b
Live a long life, have great majesty, have mastery over birth
and death,
Go to the summit of the world-system, and manifest various
physical forms;
The auspicious one endowed with merit will make offerings one
after another
Of the article effectuated by mantras: this is called siddhi.
With [conceptually] differentiated drugs and [other] articles the
nondifferentiated is accomplished.

“Lord of Mysteries, the Tathāgatas of the present [age] and so on in all

world-systems, worthy [of worship] and perfectly and fully awakened, have
mastered the pāramitā of expedient means, and although these Tathāgatas
know that all differentiation is originally empty by nature, by means of the
power of the pāramitā of expedient means they bring to the fore the condi-
tioned in the unconditioned. Responding in turn [to the circumstances of
beings], they appear throughout the Dharma realm for the sake of beings,
causing them to see the Dharma, dwell in happiness, and generate a joyful
mind, or else they obtain long life, enjoy themselves by disporting among
the five desires, and make offerings to the World-honored Buddhas. No
worldlings are able to believe the realization of such a state, but because the
Tathāgatas perceive its purpose, with a joyful mind they teach these proce-
dural rules for the bodhisattva’s path of mantra practice. Why? [Because]
that which cannot be obtained were one to seek it diligently for immeasur-
able eons, cultivating ascetic practices, those bodhisattvas who practice the
path via the gateway of mantras will achieve in this lifetime.
“Next, Lord of Mysteries, if a bodhisattva cultivating bodhisattva prac-
tices via the gateway of mantras recites three lakṣa [times] and performs
[rites of] accomplishment with a ketu (banner), khaḍga (sword), parasol,
sandal, cintāmaṇi, añjana (collyrium) drug, or rocanā (bezoar), he will also
obtain siddhi. Lord of Mysteries, if a man of good [family] or a woman of

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

good [family] endowed with expedient means acts in accordance with what
they desire, they will obtain success merely through mastery of the mind.
“Lord of Mysteries, those who hanker after cause and result, Lord of
Mysteries, those foolish people are unable to understand mantras and the
characteristics of mantras. Why?

It is taught that the cause is not the agent, and its result is not produced.
Even as a cause this cause is empty, and so how can there be any
result?59
One should know that the results of mantras are completely
dissociated from cause and action.
When his body experiences the samādhi without characteristics,
Then the mantrin will obtain siddhi born from the mind.”

Then Vajrapāṇi said to the Buddha, “World-honored One, I but beg you
19c to further explain this state of the Perfectly and Fully Awakened One, the
state of the accomplishment of siddhi. Men of good [family] and women of
good [family] who see this Dharma obtain joy in their hearts, experience a
state of happiness, and do not violate the Dharma realm. Why? World-hon-
ored One, all the Tathāgatas, worthy [of worship] and perfectly and fully
awakened, have explained that the Dharma realm is called the ‘inconceiv-
able realm.’ Therefore, World-honored One, bodhisattvas cultivating bodhi-
sattva practices via the gateway of mantras gain the understanding that the
Dharma realm cannot be divided or destroyed.”
When the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries had finished speaking thus, the
World-honored One addressed him, saying, “Excellent, excellent, Lord of
Mysteries! It is indeed excellent that you have asked the Tathāgata about this
matter. You should listen attentively and consider it carefully as I now explain.”
The Lord of Mysteries said, “So be it, World-honored One. I am eager
to listen.”
The Buddha addressed the Lord of Mysteries, [saying,] “One achieves
accomplishment by means of the letter-gateway A. Either in a place inhab-
ited by monks, or inside a mountain cave, or in a clean chamber one places
the letter A on all one’s limbs and recites three lakṣa [times]. Then at the full
of the moon one uses everything one has to make offerings until the bodhi-
sattva Samantabhadra, Mañjuśrī, Vajradhara (i.e., Vajrapāṇi), and so on or

78
 Fascicle Three

other holy divinities appear before one and caress one’s head, exclaiming,
‘Excellent, practitioner!’ One should [then] bow down, make obeisance, and
offer up argha water, whereupon one will achieve the samādhi of not for-
getting the bodhi-mind. Again, if one repeatedly recites it with such light-
ness of body and mind, one will obtain purity of mind and purity of body
wherever one is born. If one places [the letter A] on one’s ear and recites it,
one will obtain purity of the organ of hearing. If one perfoms exhalation and
inhalation with the letter-gateway A, meditating three times [daily], and if
the practitioner is then able to maintain this, he will be longevous and live
in the world for long eons. If he wishes to be loved and respected by a rāja
(king) and so on, then he makes the person who is to be won over into the
letter-gateway Ha, and giving him a padma flower and himself holding a
śaṅkha, they look at each other, whereupon they will engender joy.”
Then the World-honored One Vairocana again gazed upon the entire
great assembly and addressed the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries, saying,
“Vajrapāṇi, there are born of the minds of Tathāgatas the play of activity and
dance of practice which display a wide variety of forms; encompass the four
elements [of earth, water, fire, and wind]; abide in the mind-king; are com-
mensurate with empty space; accomplish vast results visible and invisible;
give birth to the stages of all śrāvakas, pratyekabuddhas, and bodhisattvas;
cause all the wishes of bodhisattvas cultivating [bodhisattva] practices via
the gateway of mantras to be completely fulfilled; are endowed with vari-
ous actions; and bring benefit to immeasurable beings. You should listen
attentively and consider it carefully as I now explain.
“Lord of Mysteries, what is the dance of practice that produces all the
vast results of becoming and decay and which the mantrin realizes for him-
self in its entirety?”
Thereupon the World-honored One spoke these verses:

In accordance with [ritual] procedures the practitioner first performs 20a

[the meditation on] the truth of the self,
And abiding as before in accordance with the rules, he properly
thinks on the Tathāgata.
He makes of his own person the letter A, to which he adds the great
dot of emptiness [resulting in Aṃ]:

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The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

It is dignified, completely golden in color, and marked with vajras

in the four corners.
Therein he imagines the Buddha honored everywhere (i.e., Vairocana):
This the Perfectly and Fully Awakened Ones have taught to be the
sign of the truth of the self.
As he practices without any misgivings, the sign of the truth of the
self will arise,
And he will obtain benefit and happiness for all in the world.
Endowed with vast marvels, he will dwell in a state like that of
an illusionist,
And oppression by ignorance and the [three] existences implanted
since beginningless time
Will completely disappear when the practitioner achieves mental
equipoise.
If he visualizes that mind, the unsurpassed bodhi-mind,
On account of the action of reciting mantras he will in pure and
impure results
Be according to reason always undefiled, just like the lotus that rises
out of mud,
And how much more so if in his own person he succeeds in becoming
one honored among people!

Then the World-honored One Vairocana further dwelled in the samādhi

“Adamantine Play Which Vanquishes the Four Demons” and uttered words
of adamantine syllables for vanquishing the four demons, liberating the six
destinies, and satisfying the knowledge of an omniscient one: Namaḥ
samantabuddhānāṃ, āḥ vi ra hūṃ khaṃ. (Homage to all Buddhas! Āḥ vi ra
hūṃ khaṃ!)60 [142]
Then Vajrapāṇi, the Lord of Mysteries, and the other vajradharas,
Samantabhadra and the other bodhisattvas, and the entire great multitude,
having experienced something unprecedented, with wide-open eyes bowed
down to the all-sarvajña (omniscient one) and spoke these verses:

“This is the treasury of buddhas and world-saving bodhisattvas,

With which all buddhas and world-saving bodhisattvas,
As well as [pratyekabuddhas,] who awaken to causes and conditions,
and śrāvakas, who slay mental afflictions,

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 Fascicle Three

Are able to exercise various supernatural faculties wherever they go,

And they obtain unsurpassed knowledge, the unsurpassed knowledge
of the Perfectly Awakened One.
Therefore we beg you to explain in full the expedient means of this
teaching,
As well as various deeds such as the mental arrangement [of letters
on different parts of the body].
Those who seek after the unsurpassed mantra practices of the 20b
Great Vehicle,
Seeing the Dharma and dwelling in peace, will obtain the abode
of joy.”
When they had finished speaking these verses, the World-honored
One Vairocana said:
“All of you should listen attentively, dwelling singlemindedly in
mental equipoise.”
Then he empowered his lower body as the great adamantine ground
And in order to expound this Dharma manifested a bodhi-seat.
“The supreme syllable A is a great indra (mahendra) circle61
And one should know that inside and outside it is the same, a vajra
maṇḍala (circle);
Therein one imagines everything, and it is described as the seat
of yoga.
The letter A is foremost life, and it is regarded as the syllable of
induction;
Always place a great dot of emptiness on it, and it will be able to
attract and bestow all results.
If for one month the practitioner binds the seal of adamantine wisdom
And performs recitation three times [daily], he will demolish the
citadel of ignorance
And obtain unmoving firmness, indestructible by gods and asuras.
In addition, deeds for increasing benefit are accomplished
at will—
All [these] the practitioner always performs in the center of the
maṇḍala.
Golden in color, his body resplendent, and wearing a crown of hair
done in a topknot,

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

The Perfectly Awakened One dwells in samādhi: this is called

the great adamantine state.
A vajra, a lotus flower, a sword, a white goose, gold, earth,
Or a cintāmaṇi jewel—these articles
One visualizes in the great indra [circle] and performs the siddhis.
Now I shall explain the method for subduing [adversaries]: all of
you listen singlemindedly!
The practitioner concentrates his thoughts on eight-peaked
Mount Meru,
On top of which he visualizes a wondrous lotus flower and erects
[thereon] the seal of adamantine wisdom (i.e., a vajra);
On top [of this] the yogin [visualizes] the letter-gateway [A]
with awesomely blazing light,
And this he places on the crown [of his adversary],62 who will
remain still and not move.
Medicine that has been mantrafied one hundred times—this the
practitioner should ingest,
And illnesses born of actions in former lives will all be cured.
Sons of the Buddha, you should further listen to the foremost
letter-gateway Va.
20c It is the color of snow, milk, or a śaṅkha, and rests on
A pedestal of a fresh white lotus flower that rises up from one’s
own navel;
In most profound and serene concentration, [it resembles] the light
of a white moon on an autumn night:
Such a maṇḍala the buddhas have taught to be remarkable.
It is imagined to be pure white, [surrounded by] circles ninefold,
Resting within a haze and removing all torments.
Its pure milk, like a string of pearls, a crystal, or moonlight,
Flows everywhere, filling all places—
If the practitioner imagines this in his mind, he will escape the
poison of obstructions.
With the likes of these does he perform in the circular altar
(maṇḍala) [rites of] accomplishment while inmental equipoise:
Milk, curds, fresh butter, ghee, sphaṭika (crystal), strings of pearls,

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 Fascicle Three

Lotus roots, water, and such things bring about siddhi in due order.
He will obtain an immeasurable lifespan and manifest an
outstanding physique,
All his troubles will cease, gods and humans will all revere him,
And he will be very learned, have a good memory, and be
intelligent, pure, and unsullied;
Performing [rites of] accomplishment by this means, he will
quickly realize the results of siddhi.
This is called the auspicious maṇḍala of the ‘pacifier’;
As a sign of foremost mastery a great dot of emptiness is placed
[on top of the letter Va, resulting in Vaṃ].
The letter Ra is the supreme truth, and the Buddha has taught that
it is chief among things fiery;
All sinful actions for which there is no option but to accept retribution
Will all disappear when the well-practicing yogin is in mental
equipoise.
The triangular figure in which it rests is pleasing to the mind and
completely red;
Serene and surrounded by a wreath of flames, the triangle lies in
his heart.
Intercorresponding with it, he visualizes therein the letter Ra with
a great dot of emptiness (i.e., Raṃ),
And the wise person accomplishes various deeds with it as
appropriate.63
[Rites for] the sun and planets and their attendants, as well as all
actions involving fire,
Domination, causing resentment, and desiccating all the limbs
[of an adversary]—
These [deeds] to be performed are all done in the circle of the fire
of knowledge.
The letter Ha is the foremost reality, born of the circle of wind;
Moreover, cause, action, and result, from which seeds grow, 21a
Are all destroyed with a great dot of emptiness [added to the letter
Ha] (i.e., Haṃ).
Now I shall explain its physical form: it is deep black, has great
majesty,

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The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

Exhibits a wrathful form, and is completely surrounded by a wreath

of flames.
The wise person visualizes it residing in a maṇḍala between his
eyebrows,
Deep blue, a semilunar disc, with the characteristics of a banner
flapping [in the wind]:
There he imagines the supreme letter-gateway Ha.
Placing it in this maṇḍala, he accomplishes whatever is to be done,
Carrying out all objectives and manifesting them for beings.
Without abandoning his present body, he obtains supernatural
powers over the objective world:
He roams about the station of great space and achieves secrecy
(i.e., invisibility) of his body,
He has divine hearing, his organ of sight is pure, and he is able to
open up profoundly secret places.
Dwelling in this altar of singlemindedness, he accomplishes many
deeds.
When the bodhisattva of great renown first sat at the place of bodhi
(bodhimaṇḍa),
He vanquished the hosts of Māra’s army with the inapprehensibility
of all causes.64
Cause being without [own-]nature, there is no result, and action is
likewise not born;
Since these three have no [own-]nature, one obtains the wisdom
of emptiness.
Its form as proclaimed by the perfectly all-knowing one of great virtue
Is the letter Kha with a great dot of emptiness (i.e., Khaṃ), supreme
and [representing] the emptiness of empty space (kha).
If one also displays the wisdom-sword seal, one’s actions will be
quickly accomplished.
The Dharma wheel, noose, khaḍga, nārāca (iron arrow),
Mudgara (mallet), and so on—[with these] one will achieve before
long this [excellent] state.”

Then the World-honored One Vairocana gazed upon the great assembly
and addressed the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries, speaking these verses:

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If bodhisattvas cultivating [bodhisattva] practices via the gateway

of mantras
Make of themselves the letter A, [regard] the internal and the
external as being all the same,
Abandon all objectives, [view] equally pebbles, gold, and jewels,
And dissociate themselves from all sinful actions, as well as
covetousness, anger, and so on,
They will all obtain purity, like the Buddhas and Munis,
Be able to bring about benefits, and be free from all faults. 21b
Next, with respect to the letter Va, the practitioner, relying on yoga
And understanding the performance of rites, in order to benefit
beings
Becomes a world-savior in his inner person: everything is like this.
With the waters of his mind calm and full to overflowing, pure white
like snow or milk,
He should engender a resolute mind and exude [the waters] throughout
his entire body
So that, flowing most purely, they spread to all his pores,
From where they overflow within and permeate the earth.
With this water of compassion he observes the suffering beings of
the world,
And any who imbibe it, or again whose body is touched by it,
Will all definitely achieve bodhi.
In mental equipoise, he imagines the letter-gateway Ra all [over
his body],
Emitting blazing light all around which is serene and shines
everywhere.
The light of the yogin turns outward and pervades all places,
And benefiting the world according to [people’s] desires, the
practitioner will exercise supernatural faculties.
[Visualizing] the letter-gateway Ra in his upper body and the letter
Va inside the circle at his navel,
He will emit fire and cause rain to fall, manifesting them at the
same time:
With the letter Ra he is able to eliminate the suffering of extreme
cold in hell,

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

And by abiding in the mantra method he removes fieriness with the

letter Va.
Making of his lower body the letter Ra and with the letter Ha as
an insignia,
Actions are quickly accomplished, and he saves beings with
grievous sins.
Dwelling in the great indra [circle], he performs the deeds of the
water-dragon [with the letters A and Va],
And the mantrin should not have any doubts about all subjugation
and so on.
Wind [represented by the letter Ha] is all-pervading and both instigates
and destroys all and everything;
These various and sundry deeds of every kind—
These one performs in accordance with the rules inside the maṇḍala
of form.
If one recites [the letter Ha], touching one’s heart with it, one will
obtain purity of the mental organ,
And if one recites it while walking about practicing levitation, one
will obtain supernatural faculties.
If, while sitting comfortably, one visualizes the letter A, imagining it
to be in the organ of hearing,
21c And recites for a full month, one will obtain purity of hearing.

“Lord of Mysteries, these are the states of siddhi born of the mind. Lord
of Mysteries, when one visualizes [these letters], various and sundry kinds
of formations (saṃskāra) are born in an instant of thought from that which
has neither shape nor form, and by merely reciting them one is able to pro-
duce the seeds of all wholesome actions such as these.
“Furthermore, Lord of Mysteries, there is nothing that the Tathāgata
does not do. For bodhisattvas cultivating [bodhisattva] practices via the gate-
way of mantras he is like a reflection: he adapts to all places, adapts to the
minds of all beings, appears before them all, and causes all beings to obtain
joy. It is all because the Tathāgata has no differentiating mind and has dis-
sociated himself from objective realms.”
Then [Vairocana] spoke these verses:

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 Fascicle Three

Although [the Tathāgata] is beyond time, direction, and activity,

and is dissociated from what accords with the Dharma and what
does not accord with the Dharma,
He is able to bestow the states of siddhi born of mantra practices.
Therefore omniscience, the result of the Tathāgata’s siddhi,
Is regarded as the state most revered, and [for this] one should
perform [rites of] accomplishment.

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 Chapter VII

The Accomplishing of Siddhi

Then the Auspicious Vajra[dhara] opened his eyes wide in wonder,

In his hand he twirled a vajra seal, which scintillated like the light
of a fire,
Its brilliance illuminating all buddha fields everywhere,
And with sublime sounds he extolled the Muni, sovereign over
dharmas.
“You teach mantra practices, but those practices are inapprehensible.
From where do mantras come, and where do they go?
May the buddhas explain this state beyond which there is none
higher,
The goal to which all dharmas return, just as streams proceed to
the sea!”

When the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries had finished speaking thus, the
World-honored One addressed him, saying:

Mahāsattva, the sense field of the mind is described as a maṇḍala,

And when the station of mantras is understood to be in the heart,
one achieves their results.
Everything that is differentiated is all born of the mind;
The distinguishing of white, yellow, red, and the like arises from
the mind.
A fixed mind when joyful is described as the inner locus of the heart;
Mantras, located in that position, are able to bestow vast results.
One thinks of a lotus flower there with eight petals and spread
with stamens;
On the flowery pedestal is the letter-gateway A, with a wreath of 22a
flames and quite fine-looking,

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The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

Its radiance all-pervading so as to illumine beings.

It is like the co-occurrence of one thousand flashes of lightning and
has the variegated forms of a buddha;
[Like an image reflected] in a round mirror in a deep recess, it
manifests itself in all places,
And it appears everywhere before beings like the moon [reflected]
in clear water.
Knowing the nature of the mind to be like this, one succeeds in abiding
in mantra practices.
Next, on top of one’s head where the parietal bones meet,
One imagines the letter Aṃ, marked with a great dot of emptiness.
Fine-looking, pure and unsullied, like crystal, the moon, or
lightning,65
It is described as the tranquil Dharma body (dharmakāya) and the
support of everything.
[From it] the siddhis of mantras manifest different kinds of forms,
And one obtains heavenly bliss and liberation and descries the state
of a Tathāgata.
Making of one’s eyes the letter Ra, radiant like a bright lamp,
One bends one’s neck, lowering one’s head slightly, and brings
the tongue close to the palate,
And so one observes the locus of the mind: the mind will manifest
mental equipoise.
It is always present [like] a round mirror, unsullied, wondrous,
and pure:
Such has been proclaimed to be the true mind by buddhas of yore.
When one has illuminated the path whereby the mind becomes
clear, material objects all emit light,
And the mantrin will see the Perfectly Awakened One, honored
among two-legged beings:
If he sees him, he will accomplish the foremost and everlasting
essence of siddhi.
Next, he then imagines that he transforms this letter-gateway Ra,
Placing the letter La with a great dot of emptiness (i.e., Laṃ) in the
position of his eyes.

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 Fascicle Three

Seeing the state of the emptiness of everything, he achieves the state

of immortality.
If, desiring vast wisdom, or the exercise of the five supernatural
faculties,
Longevity with a youthful body, the accomplishment of [the state
of] a vidyādhara, and so on,
The mantrin has not yet achieved them, it is because he has not
followed this [procedure].
The wisdom generated by mantras is supreme real knowledge,
The treasury of all buddhas and world-saving bodhisattvas,
With which Perfectly Awakened Ones, world-saving bodhisattvas,
And śrāvakas wander through other localities, 22b
And in all buddha fields they all give such teachings.
Thus one obtains unsurpassed knowledge, the unsurpassed knowledge
of the Buddha.

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 Chapter VIII

Maṇḍala Practices for the

Revolving Wheel of Letters

Thereupon the World-honored One Vairocana surveyed the entire great assem-
bly, surveyed the realms of beings with eyes that had cultivated great com-
passion, and dwelled in the samādhi “Born of Nectar.”66 From within this
state of concentration the Buddha then uttered the vidyārājñī “Power Unim-
peded throughout All Three Ages”: Tad yathā, gaganasame ’pratisame sar-
vatathāgatasamatānugate gaganasamavaralakṣaṇe svāhā. (That is to say:
O you who are equal to space! you who are without equal! you who have
attained equality with all Tathāgatas! you who have excellent attributes like
the sky! svāhā!) [143]
“Good sirs, this vidyārājñī represents a sphere no different from the
Tathāgata’s body.” And he spoke this verse:

With this empowerment by the Buddha, bodhisattvas of great renown

Are unobstructed in the Dharma and able to extinguish all suffering.

Then the World-honored One Vairocana, calling to mind the primordial

non-birth of the buddhas, empowered his own person and the vajradharas
and addressed the vajradharas headed by Vajrapāṇi and so on, saying, “Good
sirs, listen attentively to the section on maṇḍala practices for the revolving
wheel of letters, whereby bodhisattvas cultivating [bodhisattva] practices via
the gateway of mantras are able to perform buddha deeds and manifest their
bodies everywhere.”
Then Vajradhara descended from his adamantine lotus-flower seat, revolv-
ing [like a vajra whirling through the air], bowed his head to the World-hon-
ored One, and extolled him, saying:

I take refuge in the bodhi-mind; I take refuge in you who have

generated the bodhi-mind;

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

I bow down to the essence of practice, the stages and pāramitās;

I pay reverence to you who have previously done it; and I take
refuge in you who have realized emptiness.

The Lord of Mysteries, having praised [the World-honored One] in this

manner, said to the Buddha, “I but beg you, O Dharma King, to take pity on
and give thought to us, and to expound it in order to benefit beings and so
that the cultivation of mantras may be consummated in accordance with what
you have taught.”
When the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries had finished speaking thus, the
World-honored One Vairocana addressed him, saying:

I am the original beginning of everything and am called the support

of the world;
22c My teaching of the Dharma is peerless, originally quiescent, and
unsurpassed.

Then the Buddha, having spoken this gāthā, performed empowerment

in such a way that on account of his empowerment the vajradharas and
bodhisattvas were able to see the most excellent bodhi-seat of the Buddha,
with the World-honored One devoid of frivolous arguments like empty space
and characterized by the yoga of nondual practice, which represented the
maturation of karma. Immediately the limbs of the World-honored One’s
body all manifested this letter, which for all mundane and supramundane
śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas who diligently cultivate the accomplishment
of siddhi in contemplation and meditation is the same as life, the same as a
seed, the same as a support, and the same as a world-savior: Namaḥ
samantabuddhānāṃ, a. [144 = 73]
“Good sirs, this letter A has been empowered by all Tathāgatas. [With it]
bodhisattvas cultivating bodhisattva practices via the gateway of mantras are
able to perform buddha deeds and manifest physical bodies everywhere, and
all Dharma revolves on the letter-gateway A. Therefore, Lord of Mysteries, if
bodhisattvas cultivating bodhisattva practices via the gateway of mantras wish
to see the Buddha, wish to make offerings [to the Buddha], wish to realize the
generation of the bodhi-mind, wish to associate with [other] bodhisattvas, wish
to benefit beings, wish to seek siddhi, and wish to seek the knowledge of an
omniscient one, they should diligently practice in this essence of all buddhas.”

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 Fascicle Three

Then the World-honored One Vairocana again definitively explained the

supernatural faculties of samādhi, the mantra practices, and the inconceiv-
able methods for arranging the positions of the holy divinities in the king of
maṇḍalas “Born of the Matrix of Great Compassion.”
“The ācārya first dwells in the letter A, the gateway to omniscience, and
holding a sūtra (cord), he bows down to all the buddhas, extends it to the
eastern quarter, turns round to the south and then to the western quarter, and
moves around to the northern quarter. Next, he makes [himself into]
Vajrasattva by empowering himself as Vajradhara, either with his seal or
with the letter Va. Entering inside [the maṇḍala], he lays out the [central]
maṇḍala. Likewise, in the second [concentric] maṇḍala too, because he
empowers himself with original quiescence, he has the form of nondual yoga,
the form of the Tathāgata, and the form of emptiness. Next, he leaves the
path [where ritual deeds] are performed67 and the two sections correspon-
ding to the abodes of the holy divinities, and, quitting these three sections,
he dwells in the position of the Tathāgatas [in the center of the maṇḍala].
From the eastern quarter he extends the sūtra and goes around the perime-
ter. In the remaining two [concentric] maṇḍalas too he should perform the
[ritual] deeds by this means. Then he empowers himself as Vairocana, thinks
of the vast Dharma realm, and arranges the colors. The mantra-practitioner
should start with immaculate white.”
[Vairocana then] spoke these verses:

With this pure Dharma realm all beings are purified,

And one’s person is like the Tathāgata, far removed from all faults. 23a
Meditating in this manner, one imagines the letter-gateway Ra,
Serene, with a wreath of bright flames, and the color of a clear moon
or a śaṅkha.
Second, one applies the color red: the practitioner should keep it
in mind
And imagine the letter [A]68 shining brightly with the great dot of
emptiness of original nothingness,
Radiant with the brilliance of the sunrise, supreme, and indestructible.
Third, the mantrin next applies the color yellow:
His mind concentrated on the letter-gateway Ka, he should follow
the ritual instructions.

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

His physical appearance just like genuine gold, in a state of

meditation he destroys all poisons;
Rays of light spread everywhere, and he is golden in color, like
the Muni.
Next he should apply the color green, which liberates one from
birth-and-death;
He imagines the letter-gateway Va,69 the bodhi-seat of the great
tranquil one (mahāmuni),
And the color of his body like a rainbow, he removes all fear.
Lastly he applies the color black, its hue most mysterious:
He imagines the letter-gateway Ha, producing a circle of light
all around,
Just like the fierce flames of the [fire] calamity [at the end] of an
eon; with a jeweled crown and raising a seal in his hand,
He terrifies all evil ones and vanquishes the army of Māra.

Then the World-honored One Vairocana rose from [that] samādhi and
dwelled in the samādhi “Immeasurable Victory,” and while in [this] state of
meditation he revealed the vidyārājñī “Universally Inviolable Strength,”
born in the sphere of all Tathāgatas. The vidyā is: Namaḥ sarvatathāgateb-
hyaḥ sarvamukhebhyaḥ, asame parame acale gagane smaraṇe sarvatrānu-
gate svāhā. (Homage to all Tathāgatas in all directions! O you who are
unequaled! you who are supreme! you who are unmoving! sky! you who
remember! you who are all-pervading! svāhā!) [145]
“Next [the ācārya] prepares the colors. He bows his head to the World-
honored One and Prajñāpāramitā and recites this vidyārājñī eight times.
[Then] he rises from his seat, circumambulates the maṇḍala, enters inside,
and with the power of great kindness and great pity he thinks of his disci-
ples. The ācārya then empowers himself as Karma-Vajrasattva with the let-
ter-gateway Va as well as Varadavajra (i.e., Mañjuśrī), whereupon he should
draw the great maṇḍala ‘Born of the Matrix of Great Compassion.’
“In the center he calmly fashions [an image of] the World-honored One
Mahāvairocana, seated on a white lotus flower, wearing on his head [a crown
of] hair done in a topknot, with paṭa (cloth) for his undergarment and wear-
23b ing sheer silk on top, his physical appearance golden in color, and surrounded
by a wreath of flames; alternatively [he may be represented] by the seal of

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 Fascicle Three

the Tathāgata’s Crown or by a syllable, namely, the letter-gateway A. All the

buddhas in the eastern quarter [are represented] by the letter-gateway A with
a great dot of emptiness (i.e., Aṃ). For Gaganalocanā, the mother of all Tathā-
gatas, in the direction aiśānī (i.e., northeast) he should write the letter Ga.
For all the bodhisattvas, in the direction of Agni (i.e., southeast) he draws a
cintāmaṇi jewel or places the letter Ka. For Avalokiteśvara, in the direction
of yakṣas (i.e., north) [he places] the seal of a lotus flower and draws bodhi-
sattvas who will succeed to the position [of a buddha] after one more birth
together with their attendants, or else he forms the letter Sa. In the direction
of Yama (i.e., south), beyond the three subsections, he places the seal of
adamantine wisdom (i.e., a vajra) [or] Vajradhara, the Lord of Mysteries,
and his attendants, or else he writes the letter Va. Leaving these three posi-
tions, he draws the seal of all the vajradharas or writes their syllable, namely,
the letter Hūṃ. Next, in the direction of Nairṛti (i.e., southwest), below Mahā-
vairocana, he fashions [an image of] Acalanātha, seated on a stone, holding
a noose and a wisdom sword in his hands, encircled by a wreath of flames,
and threatening obstructors; alternatively, he places his seal or writes his syl-
lable, namely, the letter Hāṃ. In the direction of Vāyu (i.e., northwest) is the
honored one Trailokyavijaya, who destroys great obstructors: he has bright
flames above and is greatly wrathful like Yama, his figure is black in color,
among those who are terrible he is the most terrifying, and in his hand he
twirls a vajra; alternatively, [the ācārya] fashions his seal or writes his syl-
lable, namely the letter Hā.
“Next, in the four quarters [the ācārya] draws the four great guardians.
[The guardian] in the direction of Śakra (i.e., east) is called the protector
Abhaya: he is golden in color, has white robes, his face shows a slightly
wrathful appearance, and in his hand he holds a daṇḍa (staff); alternatively,
[the ācārya] fashions his seal or places his syllable, namely, the letter Va.
[The guardian] in the direction of yakṣas (i.e., north) is called the protector
Sarvabhayavināśin: he is white in color, has white robes, holds a khaḍga
(sword) in his hand, has bright flames, and is able to destroy all fears; alter-
natively, [the ācārya] draws his seal or places his syllable, namely, the letter
Va.70 [The guardian] in the direction of nāgas (i.e., west) is called the pro-
tector Durdharṣa: he is red like the color of the aśoka flower, wears vermil-
ion robes, has a smiling countenance, and is in the midst of bright flames,

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

gazing upon the entire assembly; alternatively, [the ācārya] places his seal
or places his syllable, namely, the letter Saḥ. [The guardian] in the direction
of Yama (i.e., south) is called the protector Vajrāparājita: he is black in color,
has dark robes, has an expression of bhṛkuṭi (frown) with a wavy pattern
between his eyebrows, and wears a crown of hair [done in a topknot] on top
[of his head], his body has an awesome splendor which illuminates the realms
of beings, and in his hand he holds a daṇḍa and is able to destroy great
obstructors; alternatively, [the ācārya] fashions his seal or places his sylla-
ble, namely, the letter Kṣaṃ. In addition, all attendants and messengers all
sit on white lotus flowers.
“After having laid out [the deities] in this manner, the mantrin should
next go outside and in the second sector draw the king of Munis of the Śākya
lineage (i.e., Śākyamuni): he wears a kāṣā[ya] robe and has the thirty-two
attributes of a Guiding Teacher in order to preach the supreme teachings and
23c bestow fearlessness on all beings; alternatively, [the mantrin places] seals
such as a kāṣā[ya] or almsbowl or uses his syllable, namely, the letter Bhaḥ.
“Next, in the outer maṇḍala [the mantrin] empowers himself with the
nature of the Dharma realm and generates the bodhi-mind. Leaving the three
subsections [of the outer maṇḍala], he should make obeisance three times,
thinking in his mind of the World-honored One Vairocana. Having prepared
the colors as before, in the direction of Śakra (i.e., east) in the third sector
he fashions [an image of] Varadavajra with the figure of a youth: in his left
hand he holds a blue lotus flower with a pestle of adamantine wisdom (i.e.,
vajra) placed on top, he has adorned himself with strings of jewels and has
exquisite sheer silk for an undergarment and very light and fine [silk] for an
upper garment, his body is saffron in color, and he has five topknots on top
of his head; alternatively, [the mantrin] places his mystic seal or places his
syllable. His mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, maṃ. [146 = 82]
“To his right is the youth Jālinīprabha, completely perfect in all his phys-
ical attributes and holding a jeweled net in his left hand and a hook in his
right hand; alternatively, [the mantrin] places his seal or writes his syllable,
namely, the letter Jāṃ. In the direction of Yama (i.e., south) is the bodhi-
sattva Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin: he is golden in color, has a crown of hair
[done in a topknot], and holds a wish-fulfilling jewel; alternatively, [the
mantrin] draws his seal or places his syllable, namely, the letter Āḥ. In the

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 Fascicle Three

direction of yakṣas (i.e., north) is the bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha: in color like the
priyaṅgu flower, he holds a lotus flower in his hand and is adorned with strings
of jewels; alternatively, [the mantrin] places his seal or places his syllable,
namely the letter I. In the direction of nāgas (i.e., west) is Ākāśagarbha: he is
white in color and has white robes, his body has [a halo of] blazing light, and
he is adorned with strings of jewels and holds a khaḍga in his hand; alterna-
tively, [the mantrin] places his seal or places his syllable, namely, the letter Ī.

The mantrin sits comfortably, abiding peacefully in the Dharma

realm;
[Thinking] ‘I am identical with the nature of the Dharma realm,’
he abides in the bodhi-mind.
Facing the direction of Śakra (i.e., east), he binds the seal of
adamantine wisdom;
Next, he makes [himself into] Vajra-Action (i.e., Karma-Vajrasattva)
and earnestly makes offerings.
He displays the samaya seals of the world-saving buddhas,
Thinking of all places and reciting the mantras three times.
Summoning the disciples in accordance with the rites,71 he makes
them face the altar and purifies them.
He bestows on them the Three Refuges, and as they dwell in the
supreme bodhi-mind,
He should bind for the disciples the seal of the nature of the
Dharma realm;
Next he binds the Dharma-wheel seal, singlemindedly identifying
himself with its essence.
He covers their faces with silk cloths, and generating thoughts
of compassion, 24a
He makes sure that they are not empty-handed72 so that they may
consummate bodhi.
Speaking into their ears, he announces to them the unsurpassed
perfect precepts.
Next, he should bind for them the samaya seals of the Perfectly and
Fully [Awakened Ones].
Giving them flowers which have opened, he makes them generate
the aspiration for bodhi,

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The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

And wherever [the flowers] land [when thrown onto the maṇḍala],
he instructs the trainees accordingly;
Carrying out the pledges in this way, he should transmit everything
[to them].”
Then Vajradhara, endowed with virtue, made another request of the
World-honored One:
“I but beg you, supreme among humans, to explain the consecration
rite.”
Thereupon the Bhagavān, abiding peacefully in the Dharma realm,
Addressed Vajrapāṇi: “With singlemindedness you should listen
attentively
As I explain the ritual instructions which bring about supreme mastery.
The teacher empowers his own person with the nature of the Tathāgata
Or again with a mystic seal; next he should summon the disciples
And make them dwell inside the [maṇḍala] ‘Great King of Lotus
Flowers,’ which has the nature of the Dharma realm.
With [four] jeweled flasks empowered by the four great bodhisattvas,
And having bound the seal ‘birth from [all the Tathāgata’s] limbs,’
he uses [the flasks] to anoint their heads.
In their topknots he should bestow the letter-gateway Aṃ with a
great [dot of] emptiness,
In their hearts he places the syllable of non-birth (i.e., A), and on
their chests he displays the letter of unsulliedness (i.e., Ra),
Or else [he places] the letter A in all [instances], [visualizing in their
hearts a figure] with [a crown of] hair done in a topknot, radiant
with a golden color,
Dwelling on a pedestal of a white lotus flower, and identical with
a worthy (jina).”

[End of] Fascicle Three of the Scripture of the

Enlightenment, Supernatural Transformations,
and Empowerment of Mahāvairocana

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 Fascicle Four

Chapter IX

Mystic Seals

Thereupon the Bhagavān Vairocana surveyed the entire great assembly and
addressed the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries, saying, “Lord of Mysteries, 24b
there are insignia identical with the Tathāgatas’ articles of adornment and
identical with the purport of the Dharma realm. If a bodhisattva, his body
adorned with these, displays these banners of great bodhi in all the Tathā-
gatas’ great assemblies as he passes through all destinies while in [the cycle
of] birth-and-death, then gods, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, garuḍas,
kiṃnaras, mahoragas, humans, and non-humans will revere him, encircle
him, receive his teachings, and practice them. Listen attentively now and
consider very carefully as I explain.”
When he had finished speaking thus, Vajrapāṇi said, “World-honored
One, now is the time! World-honored One, now is the time!”
Then the Bhagavān promptly dwelled in the samādhi “Inviolable Strength
of the Body,” and while dwelling in this state of meditation he uttered the
vidyārājñī of universally unobstructable power, unequaled [power], and the
power of sama[ya] for entry into the samaya of all Tathāgatas: Namaḥ
samantabuddhānāṃ, asame trisame samaye svāhā. [147 = 6]
“Lord of Mysteries, this vidyārājñī manifests the stage of all Tathāgatas,
it does not transgress the bounds of the path of the three dharmas,73 and it
perfects the [ten] stages and [six] pāramitās. The appearance of the mystic
seal for this [vidyārājñī is as follows]: with the left and right hands form the
hollow (saṃpuṭa) hand-clasp [with a hollow between the palms] and place
the two left and right thumbs together, raised erect.74 The verse says:

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This is the great seal of all buddhas, saviors of the world;

The samaya of the Perfectly Awakened Ones resides in this seal.

“Then make fists with the left and right hands, the thumbs inserted in
between the palms, and extend the forefingers: this is the seal for purifying
the Dharma realm. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, dharma-
dhātusvabhāvako ’haṃ. [148 = 7]
“Next, turn the left and right hands over back to back and interlock all five
fingers with the tips of the two thumbs both facing each other. The verse says:

This is called the excellent seal of the auspicious Dharma wheel;

The world-saviors, the support of the world, all turn this wheel.

The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, vajrātmako ’haṃ. [149 = 8]

24c “Next, extend the two left and right hands to form the hand-clasp of
homage, bend the forefingers together, and place the two thumbs on top—it
is like a khaḍga (sword) in shape. The verse says:

This is the seal of the great wisdom sword, taught by all buddhas;
It is able to sever [wrong] views, such as the innate view of [the
reality of] the body.

The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, mahākhaḍga virajadharmasaṃ-

darśaka sahajasatkāyadṛṣṭicchedaka tathāgatādhimuktinirjāta virāgadharma-
nirjāta hūṃ. (Homage to all Buddhas! O great sword! that which manifests
the unsoiled Dharma! that which severs the innate view of the reality of the
body! that which is born of the Tathāgata’s conviction! that which is born of
the Dharma free from passion! hūṃ!) [150]
“Next, with the two left and right hands form the hollow hand-clasp,
bend the two forefingers, and encircle them with the two thumbs75—it is like
a śaṅkha (conch) in shape. The verse says:

This is called the excellent seal of the auspicious Dharma conch;

The buddhas, teachers of the world, and bodhisattvas, saviors
of the world,
All teach the unsullied Dharma that leads to tranquility and nirvana.

The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, aṃ. [151 = 75]

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“Next, join the left and right hands together, stretch all [the fingers] apart
and open them just like a ghaṇṭā (bell); the two little fingers and two thumbs
support each other, and [the tips of] the middle fingers and forefingers are
made to touch each other. The verse says:

[This] auspicious and excellent lotus flower76 is the indestructible

adamantine seat
Of the buddhas, saviors of the world; an awakened one is called
a ‘buddha,’
And bodhi and the Buddha’s sons are all born from this [seat].

The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, āḥ. (Homage to all Buddhas!

Āḥ!) [152]
“Next, make a fist with the left and right hands, the five fingers turned
outward; raise the middle fingers, extend the two forefingers, bend them into
the shape of hooks, and place them alongside [the middle fingers], which
they support; place the thumbs and little fingers together, pointing them
straight upward, and intercross the ring fingers—it is like a vajra [in shape].
The verse says:

The seal of adamantine great wisdom is able to destroy the citadel

of ignorance;
It awakens those asleep, and even gods and humans cannot destroy it.

The mantra is: Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, hūṃ. (Homage to all Vajras!

Hūṃ!) [153]
“Next, make a fist with the left and right hands, the five fingers turned
inward; raise the middle fingers, place the two forefingers alongside them,
and, bending the two thumbs, place them side by side. The verse says:

This seal is a mahā (great) seal, called the ‘Tathāgata’s Crown’; 25a
Just by forming this [seal], one becomes identical with the
World-honored One.

The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, hūṃ hūṃ. (Homage to all

Buddhas! Hūṃ hūṃ!) [154]
“Next, make a fist with the right hand and place it between the eyebrows.
The verse says:

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This is called the repository of the tuft attribute (ūrṇākośa),77 and it

is the seal of the Buddha’s constant fulfillment of wishes;
By merely forming this [seal] one becomes identical with the best
of the worthies (jina).

The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, āḥ haṃ jaḥ. (Homage to all

Buddhas! Āḥ haṃ jaḥ!) [155]
“Dwell in the yoga posture with the left and right hands both at the navel
as if holding an almsbowl: this is called the great almsbowl seal of Śākya-
muni. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, bhaḥ. [156 = 95]
“Next, turn the right hand upward to make the gesture of bestowing fear-
lessness. The verse says:

It is able to bestow fearlessness on all kinds of beings;

If one binds this great seal, one is called ‘he who bestows fearlessness.’

The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, sarvathā jina jina bhayanāśana

svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who are in every way victorious, vic-
torious! you who destroy fear! svāhā!) [157]
“Next, lower the right hand to make the gesture of granting wishes. The
verse says:

Such is the wish-granting seal, taught by the support of the world;

Just by binding this, the buddhas will fulfill one’s wishes.

The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, varada vajrātmaka svāhā.

(Homage to all Buddhas! O you who grant wishes! you who are of the nature
of a vajra! svāhā!) [158]
“Next, make a fist with the right hand, extend the forefinger, and with
an expression of bhṛkuṭi (frown) dwell in mental equipoise. The verse says:

With this great seal the buddhas, honored saviors of the world,
Terrify obstructors and accomplish siddhi at will.
By one’s binding of this seal, the most evil hosts of Māra’s army
And other obstructors will undoubtedly scatter.

The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, mahābalavati daśabalodbhave

25b mahāmaitryabhyudgate svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who possess

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great strength! you who have arisen from the ten powers! you who have
arisen from great benevolence! svāhā!) [159]
“Next, make a fist with the right hand, extend the middle finger and ring
finger, and place the thumb below them. The verse says:

This is called the eye born of the compassion of all buddhas, supports
of the world;
Imagining that he places it on his eyes, the wise person achieves the
eyes of a buddha.

The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, gaganavaralakṣaṇe karuṇā-

mayatathāgatacakṣu svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who have the
excellent attributes of the sky! eye of the Tathāgata formed of compassion!
svāhā!) [160]
“Next, make a fist with the left and right hands, the five fingers turned
inward, extend the forefingers, and bend them round so that they meet. The
verse says:

This is the excellent noose seal, which destroys evildoers;

Binding this, the mantrin is able to bind those who are not good.

The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, he he mahāpāśa prasaraudārya

sattvadhātuvimohaka tathāgatādhimuktinirjāta svāhā. (Homage to all
Buddhas! Ho! ho! great noose! you who extend over a wide area! you who
bewilder the realm of beings! you who are born of the Tathāgata’s convic-
tion! svāhā!) [161]
“Next, clasp the left and right hands together to make a fist, extend the
forefinger of the right hand, and bend the third phalanx in the form of a ring.
The verse says:

This is called the hook seal; the buddhas, saviors of the world,
Summon all those with the great mind of bodhi
Dwelling in the ten stages as well as beings with evil thoughts.

The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, āḥ sarvatrāpratihate tathā-

gatāṅkuśa bodhicaryāparipūraka svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! Āḥ! O
you who are unimpeded everywhere! hook of the Tathāgata! that which brings
to completion the practice for awakening! svāhā!) [162]

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“Then, with this hook seal, extend the middle finger [of the right hand]
and bend it slightly: this is called the seal of the Tathāgata’s heart. The mantra
is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, jñānodbhava svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas!
25c O you who have risen from knowledge! svāhā!) [163]
“Next, with this seal, extend the ring finger and raise it erect: this is
called the seal of the Tathāgata’s navel. The mantra is: Namaḥ samanta-
buddhānāṃ, amṛtodbhava svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who have
risen from the nectar of immortality! svāhā!) [164]
“Then, with this seal, extend the ring finger straight up and also raise
the other [fingers]: this is called the seal of the Tathāgata’s waist. The mantra
is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, tathāgatasaṃbhava svāhā. (Homage to all
Buddhas! O you who are born from the Tathāgata! svāhā!) [165]
“Next, form the hollow hand-clasp with the left and right hands, bend
the two forefingers and insert them in between [the palms], do the same with
the two ring fingers, slightly bend the two little fingers, and extend the mid-
dle fingers: this is the seal of the Tathāgata’s treasury. The mantra is: Namaḥ
sarvatathāgatebhyaḥ, raṃ raṃ raḥ raḥ svāhā. (Homage to all Tathāgatas!
Raṃ raṃ raḥ raḥ! svāhā!) [166]
“Then, with this seal, extract the ring fingers and turn them upward,
holding them there: this is called the seal of the greater boundary. The mantra
is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, le lu puri vikule svāhā. (Homage to all
Buddhas! Le lu puri vikule! svāhā!) [167]
“Then, with this seal, crook the two middle fingers so that they meet
and stretch the forefingers apart: this is called the seal of the Unendurable
Great Protector. The mantra is: Namaḥ sarvatathāgatebhyaḥ sarvabhayav-
igatebhyo viśvamukhebhyaḥ, sarvathā haṃ khaṃ rakṣa mahābale sar-
26a vatathāgatapuṇyanirjāte hūṃ hūṃ trāṭ trāṭ apratihate svāhā. [168 = 5]
“Next, stretch the forefingers apart and insert both thumbs in between
[the palms]: this is called the seal of universal light. The mantra is: Namaḥ
samantabuddhānāṃ, jvālāmālini tathāgatārci svāhā. [169 = 19]
“Then form the hollow hand-clasp with the left and right hands and sup-
port the sides of the middle fingers with the two forefingers: this is called
the seal of the Tathāgata’s armor.78
“Bend the two ring fingers, place the two thumbs together, and insert
them in between the palms so that they press on the nails of the two ring

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fingers: this is the seal of the Tathāgata’s tongue attribute. The mantra is:
Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, tathāgatajihva satyadharmapratiṣṭhita svāhā.
(Homage to all Buddhas! O tongue of the Tathāgata! that which is estab-
lished in the true Dharma! svāhā!) [170; cf. 20]
“With this seal, bend the forefingers and ring fingers together, turn the
thumbs upward and bend them a little, place the middle fingers, standing
straight, together, and do the same with the little fingers: this is called the
seal of the Tathāgata’s speech gate (i.e., mouth). The mantra is: Namaḥ
samantabuddhānāṃ, tathāgatamahāvaktra viśvajñānamahodaya svāhā.
(Homage to all Buddhas! O great mouth of the Tathāgata! that which is pre-
eminent in manifold knowledge!79 svāhā!) [171]
“With the previous seal as it is, bend the two forefingers and insert them
in between the palms, facing upward: this is called the seal of the Tathāgata’s
tusk. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, tathāgatadaṃṣṭra rasarasā-
grasaṃprāpaka sarvatathāgataviṣayasaṃbhava svāhā. (Homage to all
Buddhas! O tusk of the Tathāgata! that which effects the attainment of the
foremost flavor among [all] flavors! that which is born from the sphere of
all Tathāgatas! svāhā!) [172]
“Then, with the appearance of the previous seal as it is, turn the two
forefingers upward, holding them there, and bend the third phalanges: this
is called the seal of the Tathāgata’s eloquence. The mantra is: Namaḥ samanta-
buddhānāṃ, acintyādbhutarūpavācaṃ samatāprāpta viśuddhasvara svāhā.80
(Homage to all Buddhas! O you who have gained equality with speech of
inconceivable and marvelous form! pure sound! svāhā!) [173]
“Next, place the left and right hands together to form the hollow hand- 26b
clasp, bend the two little fingers and thumbs, and insert them in between [the
palms] so that they touch: this is the seal of the ten powers possessed by the
Tathāgata. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, daśabalāṅgadhara
hūṃ saṃ jaṃ svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who possess the mem-
bers of the ten powers! hūṃ saṃ jaṃ! svāhā!) [174]
“Then, with the previous seal as it is, bend the two thumbs and forefingers
so that the upper phalanges touch: this is the seal of the Tathāgata’s station
of mindfulness. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, tathāgatasmṛti
sattvahitābhyudgata gaganasamāsama svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O
mindfulness of the Tathāgata! that which has arisen for the weal of beings!
that which is equal to the sky and unequaled! svāhā!) [175]

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“Then, with the previous seal as it is, the two thumbs are placed on top
of the two ring fingers: this is called the seal of the realization of the equal-
ity of all dharmas. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, sarva-
dharmasamatāprāpta tathāgatānugata, svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O
you who have gained equality with all things! you who follow the Tathā-
gata! svāhā!) [176]
“Next, clasp the left and right hands together, place the two forefingers
on top of the middle fingers, with the remaining [fingers] as before: this is
the seal of Samantabhadra’s wish-fulfilling gem. The mantra is: Namaḥ
samantabuddhānāṃ, samatānugata virajadharmanirjāta mahāmaha svāhā.
[177 = 21]
“Then, with this hollow hand-clasp, bend the two forefingers below the
two middle fingers, with the remaining [fingers] as before: this is the seal of
Maitreya. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, ajitaṃjaya sar-
vasattvāśayānugata svāhā. [178 = 22]
“Then, with the previous seal as it is, insert the two thumbs in between
[the palms]: this is called the seal of Ākāśagarbha. The mantra is: Namaḥ
samantabuddhānāṃ, ākāśasamatānugata vicitrāmbaradhara svāhā. [179
= 23]
“Then, with the previous seal as it is, bend the two ring fingers and two
little fingers, insert them in between the palms, and place the two forefingers
26c and middle fingers together: this is the seal of Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin.
The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, āḥ sattvahitābhyudgata traṃ
traṃ raṃ raṃ svāhā. [180 = 24]
“Place the left and right hands together as before, stretch the five fingers
[of both hands] apart, just like a bell, place the thumbs and little fingers
together so that they support each other, and form the shape of a lotus flower:
this is the seal of Avalokiteśvara. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,
sarvatathāgatāvalokita karuṇāmaya ra ra ra hūṃ jaḥ svāhā. [181 = 25]
“Form the hollow hand-clasp with the left and right hands as before, just
like an unopened lotus: this is the seal of Mahāsthāmaprāpta. The mantra is:
Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, jaṃ jaṃ saḥ svāhā. [182 = 26]
“Make a fist with the left and right hands as before, the five fingers turned
inward, raise the two forefingers, just like the point of a needle, and place
the two thumbs against them: this is the seal of the honored one Tārā. The

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mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, tāre tāriṇi karuṇodbhave svāhā.

(Homage to all Buddhas! Tārā! savioress! you who have risen from com-
passion! svāhā!) [183; cf. 27]
“With the previous seal as it is, raise the two forefingers so that they cross
and press against each other: this is the seal of Bhṛkuṭī. The mantra is: Namaḥ
samantabuddhānāṃ, sarvabhayatrāsani hūṃ sphoṭaya svāhā. [184 = 28]
“[Form] the hollow hand-clasp with the left and right hands as before
and insert all the ring fingers and thumbs in between [the palms]: this is the
seal of the honored one Pāṇḍaravāsinī. The mantra is: Namaḥ samanta- 27a
buddhānāṃ, tathāgataviṣayasaṃbhave padmamālini svāhā. [185 = 29]
“With the previous seal as it is, bend the two forefingers and place them
below the thumbs, separated as if by a grain of wheat: this is the seal of Haya-
grīva. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, khādaya bhañja sphoṭaya
svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! Devour! shatter! rend! svāhā!) [186; cf. 30]
“With the seal the same as before, extend the two ring fingers and
forefingers, with the remaining [fingers] like a fist: this is the seal of the
bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, ha ha
ha sutanu svāhā. [187 = 31]
“Next, form the hollow hand-clasp with the left and right hands, intertwine
the middle fingers and ring fingers so that they support each other, and place
the two forefingers on top of the two thumbs in the shape of hooks, with the
remaining [fingers] as before: this is the seal of the holy one Mañjuśrī. The
mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, he he kumāra vimuktipathasthita smara
smara pratijñāṃ svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! Ho! ho! youth! you who abide
on the path to liberation! remember, remember your vow! svāhā!) [188; cf. 32]
“Make a fist with the left hand and raise the forefinger in the shape of a
hook: this is the hook seal of Jālinīprabha. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabud-
dhānāṃ, he he kumāra māyagata svabhāvasthita svāhā. (Homage to all
Buddhas! Ho! ho! youth! you who have understood illusion! you who abide
in intrinsic nature! svāhā!) [189]
“With the previous seal as it is, all the fingers [of the left hand] are all
bent a little: this is the seal of Vimalaprabha. The mantra is: Namaḥ
samantabuddhānāṃ, he kumāra vicitragatikumāra [pratijñā]m anusmara
svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! Ho! youth! O youth of varied movement!
remember your vow! svāhā!) [190]

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“Make a fist with the right hand as before, place the forefinger and mid-
dle finger together as if one, and extend them: this is the sword seal of Keśinī.
The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, he he kumārike dayājñānaṃ
27b smara pratijñāṃ svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! Ho! ho! young maiden!
remember compassion and knowledge! and your vow! svāhā!)81 [191]
“Make a fist with the right hand as before and extend the middle finger
in the shape of a lance: this is the lance seal of Upakeśinī. The mantra is:
Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, bhindayājñānaṃ he kumārike svāhā. (Homage
to all Buddhas! Destroy ignorance! ho! young maiden! svāhā!) [192]
“Make a fist with the left hand as before and extend the ring finger and
little finger: this is the banner seal of Vasumatī. The mantra is: Namaḥ
samantabuddhānāṃ, he smara jñānaketu svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas!
Ho! remember! O knowledge-banner! svāhā!) [193]
“Make a fist with the right hand and extend the forefinger in the shape
of a hook: this is the seal of the young Ākarṣaṇī. The mantra is: Namaḥ
samantabuddhānāṃ, ākarṣaya sarvān kuru ājñāṃ kumārasya svāhā. (Homage
to all Buddhas! Draw in all [beings]! perform the command of the youth
[Mañjuśrī]! svāhā!) [194]
“Make a fist with the left and right hands as before, extend the two
forefingers, and bend the [third] phalanges so that they touch: this is the seal
of servants. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, āḥ vismayanīye
svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! Āḥ! O amazing one! svāhā!) [195]
“Make a fist with the left and right hands as before, extend the middle
fingers, and bend the third phalanges: this is the vajra seal of Kautūhala. The
mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, vimaticchedaka svāhā. (Homage to
all Buddhas! O you who sever doubt! svāhā!) [196]
“Raise the right arm and form the hand [gesture] of bestowing fear-
lessness: this is the seal of Abhayaṃdada. The mantra is: Namaḥ samanta-
buddhānāṃ, abhayaṃdada svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who
bestow fearlessness! svāhā!) [197]
“Extend the right hand as before and raise it upward: this is the seal of
Apāyaṃjaha. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, abhyuddharaṇi
27c sattvadhātuṃ svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who deliver the realm
of beings! svāhā!) [198]
“Cover the heart with the right hand as before: this is the seal of Pari-
trāṇāśayamati. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, he mahāmaha

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smara pratijñāṃ svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! Ho! O great among the
great! remember your vow! svāhā!) [199]
“Make as if to hold a flower with the right hand as before: this is the
seal of Mahāmaitryabhyudgata. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,
svacittodgata svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who have risen from
your own mind! svāhā!) [200]
“Cover the heart with the right hand as before and slightly bend the mid-
dle finger: this is the seal of Karuṇāmṛḍita. The mantra is: Namaḥ samanta-
buddhānāṃ, karuṇāmṛḍita svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who are
delighted by compassion! svāhā!) [201]
“Make the gesture of granting wishes with the right hand as before: this
is the seal of Sarvadāhapraśāmin. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,
he varada varaprāpta svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! Ho! O you who grant
wishes! you who have won a boon! svāhā!) [202]
“With the right hand as before, [make] a gesture as if holding a cintā-
maṇi jewel: this is the seal of Acintyamati. The mantra is: Namaḥ samanta-
buddhānāṃ, sarvāśāparipūra[ka] svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you
who fulfill all wishes! svāhā!) [203]
“Make a fist with the left and right hands as before and spread the two
middle fingers apart: this is the flag seal of Kṣitigarbha. The mantra is: Namaḥ
samantabuddhānāṃ, ha ha ha vismaye svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! Ha
ha ha! O wondrous one! svāhā!) [204]
“Make a fist with the right hand and extend three fingers (i.e., little, ring,
and middle fingers): this is the seal of Ratnākara. The mantra is: Namaḥ
samantabuddhānāṃ, he mahāmaha svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! Ho! O
great among the great! svāhā!) [205]
“[Make a fist] with the right hand and extend the ring finger: this is the
seal of the bodhisattva Ratnapāṇi. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, 28a
ratnodbhava svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you have risen from a jewel!
svāhā!) [206]
“With the left and right hands make a hand-clasp [with the two hands]
crossed back to back, interlock the thumb of the left hand and the little finger
of the right hand, and likewise for the right [hand] on the left [hand]; the remain-
ing [fingers] are like a [three-pronged] vajra in appearance: this is the seal of
Dharaṇiṃdhara. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, dharaṇiṃdhara
svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who support the earth! svāhā!) [207]

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

“Make the form of a five-pronged vajra lance as before: this is the seal
of Ratnamudrāhasta. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, ratna-
nirjāta svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who are born of a jewel!
svāhā!)82 [208]
“Then, with this seal, make all the fingers touch each other: this is the
seal of Dṛḍhādhyāśaya. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,
vajrasaṃbhava svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who are born from
a vajra! svāhā!) [209]
“Make the sword [seal] with the two left and right hands as before: this
is the seal of the bodhisattva Gaganāmala.83 The mantra is: Namaḥ
samantabuddhānāṃ, gaganānantagocara svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas!
O you who have the sky as your infinite field of action! svāhā!) [210]
“The wheel seal, as before: this is the seal of Gaganamati. The mantra
is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, cakravarti svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas!
O you who turn the wheel! svāhā!) [211]
“The śaṅkha seal, as before: this is the seal of Viśuddhamati. The mantra
is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, dharmasaṃbhava svāhā. (Homage to all
Buddhas! O you who are born from the Dharma! svāhā!) [212]
“The lotus-flower seal, as before: this is the seal of Cāritramati. The
mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, padmālaya svāhā. (Homage to all
Buddhas! O lotus receptacle! svāhā!) [213]
“The blue lotus-flower seal, the same as before, [with the fingers] spread
slightly apart: this is the seal of Sthiramati. The mantra is: Namaḥ samanta-
28b buddhānāṃ, jñānodbhava svāhā. [214 = 163]
“Clasp the two hands together as before, bend the ring fingers and inter-
lock them in between the palms, turn the two middle fingers and little fingers
upward so that they support each other, and extend the forefingers and bend
the third phalanges so that they do not touch [the middle fingers] by the equiv-
alent of a grain of wheat: this is the seal of Vajradhara (= Vajrapāṇi). The
mantra is: Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, caṇḍamahāroṣaṇa hūṃ. [215 = 33]
“With the seal as before, bend the two thumbs and little fingers and insert
them in between the palms: this is the seal of Māmakī. The mantra is: Namaḥ
samantavajrāṇāṃ, triṭ triṭ jayanti svāhā. [216 = 34]
“As before, the fingers of the left and right hands are crossed back to
back and interlaced so that [the fingers of one hand] face their counterparts

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 Fascicle Four

[of the other hand]; rotate this and place the thumb of the right hand against
the thumb of the left hand: this is the seal of Vajraśṛṅkhalā. The mantra is:
Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, hūṃ bandha bandha moṭaya moṭaya vajrodbhave
sarvatrāpratihate svāhā. (Homage to all Vajras! Hūṃ! bind, bind! crush,
crush! O you who have risen from the vajra! you who are everywhere unim-
peded! svāhā!) [217; cf. 35]
“With this seal of Vajraśṛṅkhalā, bend the thumbs a little so that they
[appear to] support the forefingers but do not reach them: this is the seal of
Krodhacandratilaka. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, hrīḥ hūṃ phaṭ
svāhā. [218 = 36]
“Make a fist with the left and right hands as before and raise the two
forefingers erect so that they support each other: this is the seal of Vajrasūcī.
The mantra is: Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, sarvadharmanirvedhani vajrasūci
varade svāhā. [219 = 37]
“Make a fist with the left and right hands as before and place it at the
heart: this is the seal of Vajramuṣṭi. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ,
sphoṭaya vajrasaṃbhave svāhā. (Homage to all Vajras! Rend! O you who
are born from the vajra! svāhā!) [220]
“Make a fist with the left hand, raise the arm, and stretch it out; also 28c
make a fist with the right hand and extend the forefinger in a threatening ges-
ture with an appearance of wrath: this is the seal of Aparājita.84 The mantra
is: Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, durdharṣa mahāroṣaṇa khādaya sarvāṃ tathā-
gatājñāṃ kuru svāhā. (Homage to all Vajras! O Inviolable One [Durdharṣa]!
very wrathful one! devour! perform every command of the Tathāgata! svāhā!)
[221; cf. 70]
“Make a fist with the right hand and hold it while making the gesture of
striking: this is the seal of Abhimukha. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantava-
jrāṇāṃ, he abhimukha mahāpracaṇḍa khādaya kiṃ cirāyasi samayam anus-
mara svāhā. (Homage to all Vajras! Ho! O you who face [Durdharṣa]! you
who are very violent! devour! why do you procrastinate? remember your
pledge! svāhā!) [222; cf. 71]
“The gesture of holding an almsbowl, as before: this is the almsbowl
seal of Śākya[muni]. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, sarva-
kleśaniṣūdana sarvadharmavaśitāprāpta gaganasame svāhā. (Homage to
all Buddhas! O you who destroy all defilements! you who have won control
over all dharmas! you who are equal to the sky! svāhā!) [223; cf. 40]

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

“The seal of Śākya[muni]’s tuft attribute (ūrṇā) is as above.

“Then bring the fingertips of the right hand together and place them on
the crown [of the head]: this is the seal of all Buddha-Crowns. The mantra
is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, vaṃ vaṃ hūṃ hūṃ hūṃ phaṭ svāhā. (Homage
to all Buddhas! Vaṃ vaṃ hūṃ hūṃ hūṃ phaṭ! svāhā!) [224; cf. 42]
“Make a fist with the left hand, extend the middle finger and forefinger,
and place the thumb on top of the little and ring fingers; extend the forefinger
and middle finger of the right hand, insert them in the left palm, and again
place the thumb on top of the little and ring fingers, just like in the sheath of
a sword: this is the seal of Acalanātha.
“The adamantine wisdom seal as before: this is the seal of Trailokyavijaya.
“Clasp the left and right hands together as before, with the little and ring
29a fingers all turned downward; extend the middle fingers with both tips together,
bend the two forefingers and place them against the third phalanges [of the
middle fingers], and put the thumbs side by side in the shape of three eyes: this
is the seal of the Tathāgata’s Crown, the mother of buddhas and bodhisattvas.
“Next, turn the left hand over and extend [the fingers], make a fist with
the right hand, and raise the forefinger [up against the palm of the left hand]
so that it is like a parasol in shape: this is the seal of Sitātapatroṣṇīṣa.
“The sword seal as before: this is the seal of Jayoṣṇīṣa.
“The wheel seal as before: this is the seal of Vijayoṣṇīṣa.
“As with the previous hook seal, make a fist with the right hand and
raise the forefinger, bending it a little: this is the seal of Vikiraṇoṣṇīṣa.
“The Buddha-Crown seal as before: this is the seal of Tejorāśyuṣṇīṣa.
“The lotus-flower seal as before: this is the seal of Abhyudgatoṣṇīṣa.
“The śaṅkha seal as before: this is the seal of Anantasvaraghoṣoṣṇīṣa.
“Make a fist with the right hand and place it between the eyebrows: this
is the cintāmaṇi, the seal of Ūrṇā.
“The Buddha-Crown seal as before: this is the seal of Buddhalocanā.
However, there is a slight difference in that it has the mark of a vajra.
“The right hand rests on the heart, as if holding a lotus flower; stretch
the left arm straight up, and extend the five fingers upward and apart, turned
outward: this is the seal of Aparājita.
“Make a fist with the left and right hands turned inward, turn the two
thumbs upward, and bend them like a mouth: this is the seal of Aparājitā.

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 Fascicle Four

“Support the cheek with the right hand: this is the seal of Īśvara.
“Then, with this seal, twist the forefinger and middle finger around and
stretch them: this is the seal of Samantakusuma.
“With the same seal as before, place the thumb in the palm: this is the
seal of Raśmimālin.
“With the same seal as before, make the gesture of holding a flower with
the thumb and forefinger: this is the seal of Manojava.
“Add the thumb to the ring finger of the right hand, stretch the forefinger,
middle finger and little finger all apart, and cover the ear: this is the seal of
Svaraviśruti.
“Clasp the left and right hands together, with the two thumbs bent around 29b
in a circular fashion and the remaining four fingers also like this: this is called
the seal of Pṛthivī.
“Make the gesture of bestowing fearlessness with the right hand as before
and put the thumb in the palm: this is the seal for invoking Agni.
“Then, with the gesture of bestowing fearlessness, support the second
phalanx of the ring finger with the thumb: this is the seal of all seers. Use it
as appropriate in their proper order.
“Clasp the left and right hands together as before and insert the forefingers
and little fingers in between the palms, with the remaining [fingers] all turned
upward: this is the daṇḍa (staff) seal of Yama.
“Turn the right hand downward, just like a ghaṇṭā: this is the bell seal
of Yama’s consort (Yamī).
“Make a fist with the left hand and extend the forefinger and middle
finger: this is the seal of Kālarātri.
“Then, with this seal, also bend the forefinger: this is the lance seal of
Rudra[’s consort] (Rudrāṇī).
“With the previous seal make the gesture of holding a lotus flower: this
is the seal of Brahmā’s spell-consort (Brahmāṇī).
“With the previous seal bend the forefinger and place it against the back
of the third phalanx of the middle finger: this is the śakti (lance) seal of Kaumārī.
“Then, with this seal, place the forefinger on top of the thumb: this is
the wheel seal of Nārāyaṇa’s queen consort (Nārāyaṇī).
“Make a fist with the left hand and make the thumb stand straight up:
this is the hammer seal of Yama’s Seven Mothers.

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

“Turn the left hand upward, as if holding a kapāla (skull): this is the
seal of Cāmuṇḍā.
“The khaḍga seal as before: this is the sword seal of Nairṛti.
“The wheel seal as before, making it with the left hand: this is the wheel
seal of Nārāyaṇa.
“Turn the left and right hands over, adding the left to the right: these are
the two cloud seals of Nandopananda (Nanda and Upananda).
“Extend the left hand as before and add the thumb to the little finger:
this is the trident seal of Śaṃkara.
“Extend the left hand as before, with the thumb and little finger sup-
porting each other: this is the seal of Śaṃkara’s wife (Śaṃkarī).
“Then, with this seal, extend the three [other] fingers straight: this is the
seal of Śaṃkara’s consort (Umā).
“With the left hand make the gesture of holding a lotus flower: this is
the seal of Brahmā.
29c “Visualize [the lotus of the previous seal] as being immaculate white:
this is the seal of Candra.
“Display a hand-clasp with the left and right hands, bend the thumbs,
and place them alongside the ring fingers: this is the carriage seal of Āditya.
“Put the right and left hands together and turn the little fingers and
forefingers inward, with the ring and middle fingers supporting each other
like a bow: this is the seal of Jayā and Vijayā.
“The banner seal as before: this is the seal of Vāyu.
“Turn the left hand upward and place it at the navel, and move the right
hand, with the thumb and forefinger supporting each other and facing the
body, as if playing music: this is the vīṇā (lute) seal of Sarasvatī.
“The noose seal as before: this is the seal of nāgas.
“The seal of Sarasvatī as before, with the forefinger [of the right hand]
bent and crossed over the thumb: this is the seal of all asuras. The mantra
is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, garalayaṃ svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas!
Absorption of poison, svāhā!) [225]
“Make a fist [with both hands] turned inward and extend the ring fingers:
this is the seal of gandharvas. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,
viśuddhasvaravāhini svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who convey
pure sounds! svāhā!) [226]

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“Then, with this seal, bend the forefingers: this is the seal of all yakṣas.
The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, yakṣeśvara svāhā. (Homage to
all Buddhas! O lord of yakṣas! svāhā!) [227]
“Then, with this seal, the thumbs and little fingers support each other
and the middle [fingers] and fore[fingers] are extended: this is the seal of
yakṣiṇīs. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, yakṣavidyādhari svāhā.
[228 = 133]
“Make a fist [with both hands] turned inward and extend the middle
fingers: this is the seal of piśācas. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,
piśācagati svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O you who are in the state of
piśācas! svāhā!) [229]
“Modify [the previous seal] and bend the middle fingers: this is the seal
of piśācīs. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, pici pici svāhā.
(Homage to all Buddhas! Pici pici! svāhā!) [230; cf. 134]
“Clasp the left and right hands together as before and raise the thumbs 30a
erect side by side: this is the seal of all planets. The mantra is: Namaḥ samanta-
buddhānāṃ, grahaiśvaryaprāpta jyoti[r]maya svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas!
O you who have won dominion over the planets! you who are formed of
light! svāhā!) [231]
“Next, with this seal, the thumbs and middle fingers are intercrossed:
this is the seal of all lunar mansions. The mantra is: Namaḥ samanta-
buddhānāṃ, nakṣatranirnādaniye svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! For you
of the lunar mansions who shout out, svāhā!) [232]
“Then, with this seal, bend the two ring fingers and insert them in between
the palms: this is the seal of rākṣasas. The mantra is: Namaḥ samanta-
buddhānāṃ, rākṣasādhipataye svāhā. [233 = 50]
“Extend the left hand, cover the mouth with it, and touch it with the
jihva (tongue): this is the seal of ḍākinīs. The mantra is: Namaḥ samanta-
buddhānāṃ, hrīḥ haḥ. [234 = 132]
“Lord of Mysteries, the Tathāgata’s seals headed by these are born of
the Tathāgata’s faith-and-understanding. They are equivalent to the insignia
of a bodhisattva, and their number is immeasurable. Furthermore, Lord of
Mysteries, you should know that [the activities of] the limbs too, in motion or
at rest, are all mystic seals, and you should know that the many utterances
made by the tongue are all mantras. Therefore, Lord of Mysteries, bodhisattvas

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The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

cultivating bodhisattva practices via the gateway of mantras should, after

having generated the bodhi-mind, abide in the stage of the Tathāgata and
[only then] draw a maṇḍala. If they do otherwise, it is tantamount to slan-
dering buddhas and bodhisattvas, and they will transgress the samaya and
certainly fall into an evil destiny.”

[End of] Fascicle Four of the Scripture of the

Enlightenment, Supernatural Transformations,
and Empowerment of Mahāvairocana

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 Fascicle Five 30b

Chapter X

The Wheel of Letters

Thereupon the Bhagavān Vairocana addressed the vajradhara Lord of Mys-

teries, saying, “Listen attentively, Lord of Mysteries! There is an all-pervad-
ing gateway to the Dharma, and if, Lord of Mysteries, a bodhisattva dwells
in these letter-gateways, all his undertakings will be completely successful.

Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, a. [235 = 73]

Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, sa. (Homage to all Buddhas! Sa!) [236]

Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, va. (Homage to all Vajras! Va!) [237]

Ka kha ga gha, ca cha ja jha, ṭa ṭha ḍa ḍha, ta tha da dha, pa pha ba

bha, ya ra la va, śa ṣa sa ha, kṣa. <The above represent the first vowel
(i.e., -a) and are all in the rising tone; pronounce them short.>

Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, ā. [238 = 74]

Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, sā. (Homage to all Buddhas! Sā!) [239]

Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, vā. (Homage to all Vajras! Vā!) [240]

Kā khā gā ghā, cā chā jā jhā, ṭā ṭhā ḍā ḍhā, tā thā dā dhā, pā phā bā

bhā, yā rā lā vā, śā ṣā sā hā, kṣā. <The above represent the first vowel
and are all in the departing tone; pronounce them long.>

Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, aṃ. [241 = 75]

Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, saṃ. [242 = 89]

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, vaṃ. (Homage to all Vajras! Vaṃ!) [243]

Kaṃ khaṃ gaṃ ghaṃ, caṃ chaṃ jaṃ jhaṃ, ṭaṃ ṭhaṃ ḍaṃ ḍhaṃ, taṃ
thaṃ daṃ dhaṃ, paṃ phaṃ baṃ bhaṃ, yaṃ raṃ laṃ vaṃ, śaṃ ṣaṃ
saṃ haṃ, kṣaṃ. <These nasalized syllables all have the first vowel;
pronounce them with their proper sound.>

Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, aḥ. [244 = 76]

30c Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, saḥ. [245 = 80]

Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, vaḥ. [246 = 81]

Kaḥ khaḥ gaḥ ghaḥ, caḥ chaḥ jaḥ jhaḥ, ṭaḥ ṭhaḥ ḍaḥ ḍhaḥ, taḥ thaḥ
daḥ dhaḥ, paḥ phaḥ baḥ bhaḥ, yaḥ raḥ laḥ vaḥ, śaḥ ṣaḥ saḥ haḥ, kṣaḥ.
<These all have the first vowel; pronounce them with the entering
tone.>

I ī u ū ṛ ṝ ḷ ḹ e ai o au.

Ṅa ña ṇa na ma, ṅā ñā ṇā nā mā, ṅaṃ ñaṃ ṇaṃ naṃ maṃ, ṅaḥ ñaḥ

ṇaḥ naḥ maḥ.

“Lord of Mysteries, the path of these letter-gateways is a gateway to the

Dharma involving skill [in these letters], whereby one progressively comes to
abide in the mantra path; it is empowered by the supernatural power of all
Tathāgatas, one will [thereby] fully comprehend the path of the Perfectly All-
knowing One, and it represents the dance of bodhisattva practices. The World-
honored Buddhas of the past, future, and present have taught it, will teach it,
and are now teaching it. Lord of Mysteries, as I now survey buddha fields
everywhere, there is none where I do not see this all-pervading gateway to
the Dharma, nor is there any among the Tathāgatas who does not proclaim
it. Therefore, Lord of Mysteries, if they wish to understand [mantra rites],
bodhisattvas cultivating bodhisattva practices via the gateway of mantras
should diligently train in this all-pervading gateway to the Dharma.
“If one adds initials, medials, and finals to ka, ca, ṭa, ta, and pa and thereby
enters the varieties of mental equipoise, one will spontaneously attain the
bodhi-mind, practice, the accomplishment of full and perfect awakening, and
parinirvāṇa. These letter-gateways explained [above], when combined with

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 Fascicle Five

ritual instructions for mantras, may be accompanied by initials, medials, and

finals. If a mantrin knows this, he will obtain mastery according to [the incli-
nations of] his mind. He should employ every single one of these phrases
with resolve, and if he understands them with intelligence, he will be granted
an unsurpassed and special state. In this way does the wheel of letters revolve
from a single wheel. On account of having understood this, the mantrin will
always illuminate the world like the World-honored One Vairocana and turn
the Dharma wheel.”

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 Chapter XI

The Secret Maṇḍala

Thereupon the Bhagavān Vairocana surveyed the entire Dharma realm with 31a
the eyes of a Tathāgata and entered the kośa (treasury) of the Dharma realm,
the samādhi “Treasury of the Adornments of Equality” with the Tathāgata’s
[lionlike] resolute speed, in order to manifest the inexhaustible adornments
of the Dharma realm and in order to deliver realms of beings without remain-
der with this gateway of mantra practices and fulfill his original vow. Then,
while in samādhi, the Buddha emitted throughout these inexhaustible realms
of beings and from a multitude of vocal gateways sounds according to their
kind, [sounds that] in accordance with their own nature [conformed with]
their maturation of karma and [re]birth, their receiving of results and retri-
bution, colors and shapes, various languages, and what they thought in their
minds, and he expounded the Dharma for them, causing all beings to all
obtain joy. Furthermore, from every single pore there emerged additional
bodies of the Dharma realm, and after they had appeared, commensurate
with empty space, they expounded throughout immeasurable world-systems
and with the verbal manifestation of the Dharma realm consisting of a sin-
gle sound the verses on generation of the Tathāgata.

It produces in forms according to their kind the dharma-marks

of dharmas,
Buddhas, śrāvakas, world-saving pratyekabuddhas,
Multitudes of striving and heroic bodhisattvas, and likewise the
honored among humans;85
Beings and the physical world are established in succession,
And dharmas that are born, abide, and so on are forever produced
in this manner.
On account of their being endowed with wisdom and expedient
means, they are free from ignorance and doubt,

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

And because they have observed this path, the Perfectly All-knowing
Ones teach [thus].

Then the body of the Tathāgata born of the Dharma realm completely
filled the entire Dharma realm with clouds of transformations of his own
physical manifestation. The World-honored One Vairocana, in the mere time
it takes to generate a thought, emitted immeasurable buddhas from his pores,
and after they had been empowered one after another, they again entered the
palace of the Dharma realm.
At this the World-honored One Vairocana again addressed the vajra-
dhara Lord of Mysteries, saying, “Lord of Mysteries, there are instances in
which the positions, seed[-syllables], and insignia of the holy deities of the
maṇḍala are set up [on the person of the practitioner]. You should listen
attentively and consider it carefully as I now explain.”
The vajradhara Lord of Mysteries said, “So be it, World-honored One.
I am eager to listen.”
Then the Bhagavān spoke in verse:

The mantrin first situates circular altars (maṇḍalas) in his own body:
From the feet to the navel constitutes a great vajra circle;
From here to the heart he should imagine a water circle;
Above the water circle is a fire circle, and above the fire circle is a
wind circle.86
Then he should keep in mind the ground and draw the various images.

31b Then Vajrapāṇi rose to the stage of the body, speech, and mind of the
World-honored One Vairocana; observing that [all] dharmas are equal, he
thought of future beings, and in order to sever all doubts he uttered the great
king of mantras: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ asamāptadharmadhātugatiṃ
gatānāṃ, sarvathā āṃ khāṃ aṃ aḥ saṃ saḥ haṃ haḥ raṃ raḥ vaṃ vaḥ svāhā,
hūṃ raṃ raḥ hra haḥ svāhā, raṃ raḥ svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas who
have gone to the state of the unending Dharma realm! In every way āṃ khāṃ
aṃ aḥ saṃ saḥ haṃ haḥ raṃ raḥ vaṃ vaḥ svāhā! hūṃ raṃ raḥ hra haḥ
svāhā! raṃ raḥ svāhā!) [247]
When the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries had finished uttering this king
of mantras, all Tathāgatas dwelling in world-systems in the ten directions
each extended their right hand and caressed the vajradhara’s head, and with

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exclamations of applause they praised him, saying, “Excellent, excellent,

Son of the Buddha! You have ascended to the stage of the body, speech, and
mind of the World-honored One Vairocana, and out of a desire to illumine
bodhisattvas everywhere dwelling in the mantra path of equality you have
uttered this king of mantras. Why? The World-honored One Vairocana, wor-
thy [of worship] and perfectly and fully awakened, when seated on the bodhi-
seat observed the Dharma realm with [these] twelve syllables and vanquished
the four demons. These [syllables] born of the Dharma realm flowed forth
from three places [in his body] and destroyed the hosts of the army of the
heavenly demon (i.e., Pāpīyas). Then he obtained the equality of the body,
speech, and mind of a World-honored One, the measure of his body being
identical with that of empty space and likewise the measure of his speech
and mind. He attained the arising of boundless knowledge, became sover-
eign over all dharmas, and expounded the Dharma, namely, this twelve-syl-
lable king of mantras. Son of the Buddha, because you have now realized
the equal body, speech, and mind of the World-honored One Vairocana, you
will be recognized by all as being identical to a perfectly all-knowing one.”
They then spoke these verses:

You have asked the omniscient Vairocana, the Honored One who is
perfectly awakened,
About the supreme mantra practices, and he will explain the ritual
instructions.
In former times we awakened wondrous bodhi by this means,
Revealed all dharmas, and caused [others] to reach nirvana.
The buddhas presently in realms in the ten directions have all
realized this.

Then Vajrapāni, endowed with virtue, rejoiced greatly in his heart and,
empowered by the awesome divinity of the buddhas, he spoke these verses:

This Dharma is never exhausted, has no own-nature, and does not

abide [in one place];
It is liberated from karma and [re]birth, and is the same as the
Perfectly All-knowing One.
The expedient means of world-saviors operating in accordance with 31c
their vows of compassion,

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I have come to understand unborn knowledge, that the characteristics

of dharmas are thus.

Then the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries again spoke some udāna verses,
asking the World-honored One Vairocana to resolve for the sake of beings
in future ages any doubts concerning this great maṇḍala “Born of the Matrix
of Great Compassion.”

“You have severed all doubts, your [all-]faceted knowledge is free

from torments,
And for the sake of beings I beg leave to ask questions of you,
the Guiding Teacher.
Please explain, Great Muni, what is to be done first in the maṇḍala.
How many [kinds of] ācāryas are there, and how many kinds
of disciples?
How does one recognize the characteristics of the site? And how
does one select and prepare it?
How should one purify it? How does one make it firm
And purify the disciples?—I beg the Guiding Teacher to explain.
What are the signs that they have been purified? With what does
one perform protection?
How does one empower the site? Which of the [ritual] deeds
comes first?
How many sūtras (cords) are there? How does one demarcate
the site?
How many kinds of offerings does one make? What are the flowers,
incense, and so on?
To whom should one offer these flowers and likewise incense?
How should one make offerings, and with which flowers and
incense?
Which rites are used for food [offerings] and homa respectively?
And the seats of the holy divinities—I beg you to explain the
instructions for them.
Please elaborate in due order on the color and form of their physical
appearance,
On the mystic seals of the honored ones, and on the seats laid out
for them.

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Why are they called “seals”? From where do these seals arise?
Again, how many kinds of consecration are there? How many
samayas are there?
For how long does the mantrin diligently cultivate mantra practices
To complete the bodhisattva path? How does he see the truth?
How many kinds of siddhi are there? And times of accomplishment?
How does one rise up into the open sky? What is the secrecy (i.e.,
invisibility) of the body?
[How] does one achieve a divine body without forsaking this body?
Again, from where do various [supernatural] transformations arise? 32a
The bad omens that appear because of the sun, moon, fire, directions,
Planets, lunar mansions, stars, and divisions of time, as well as the
sufferings experienced in birth-and-death—
How does one prevent them from occurring and, once they have
occurred, completely eliminate them?
And [how] is one able to constantly serve the buddhas, honored
among two-legged beings?
How many kinds of homa fires are there? And with how many deeds
does one increase their potency?
I but beg the Guiding Teacher to explain the different natures of
the buddhas.
The results and their number and measure and the special samādhis
Of world-systems without remainder and supramundane [realms]—
Where does their maturation lie, and why do they not maturate?
Again, how much time will elapse before one obtains liberation
from karma and [re]birth?”
The World-honored One, perfectly awakened, omniscient, and free
from torments,
Addressed Vajrapāṇi, saying, “Excellent, Great Striving Hero!
The secret maṇḍala, with the positions of the holy divinities fixed,
Born from the root of great compassion, the unsurpassed Mahayana,
Is the supreme secret of the buddhas. In accordance with your
questions,
Vajradhara of great power, I shall now explain in brief.
You should listen attentively, Son of the Buddha, to the initial deeds
[to be performed] in the maṇḍala.

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The very powerful vidyārāja,87 born of twelve component syllables,

Should be recited at the very start while dwelling in one’s own
samādhi,
And comprehending the path of yoga, one performs the various
deeds.
There are two [kinds of] ācāryas, who have [both] mastered seals
and mantras;
Their characteristics are likewise divided into the profound and
the superficial.
[The former] are familiar with the profound and extensive meanings
[of the teachings] and confer them on those to whom they may
be transmitted;
They are the eldest sons of the Perfectly Awakened Ones and are far
removed from worldly pleasures.
The second seeks the present world and is deeply attached to delusory
objects of cognition;
Mundane maṇḍalas are all made for them,
And they have been consecrated and had the teachings transmitted
to them by the buddhas, honored among two-legged beings.
Four kinds of disciples are explained, owing to distinctions between
the ready and the unready:
32b One is those who are ready to recite, and there are those who are not
ready, those who are both, and those who are neither;
He who possesses all characteristics is described by the Buddha as a
close disciple.
First know the characteristics of the site, that is to say, the mind-
ground;
I have already explained its purification: practice those deeds as before.
If it is free from faults, there is nothing to fear in the mind-ground,
And it will [then] achieve true purity and be free from all faults.
Dwelling firmly in this knowledge, one will see one’s own saṃbodhi;
If one does otherwise, one will not be able to purify the site.
If the practitioner purifies the site while dwelling in false
differentiation,
Lord of Mysteries, he is not purifying it because he is dissociated
from the bodhi-mind.

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Therefore, one must abandon differentiation before purifying

any site.
I have explained in full about maṇḍalas in the ritual instructions,
And the things that come first among them are not understood by
the stupid:
They will not be called enlightened in the world, nor will they be
omniscient,
And they will be unable to abandon differentiation, the cause of
sufferings.
[The ācārya] should purify the bodhi-mind for the disciple
And protect him with Acalanātha or by using Trailokyavijaya.
If the disciple is not swayed by false attachment,
He will accomplish supreme and perfect awakening, unsullied like
empty space.
The initial empowering of this site is based on the buddhas’ teachings,
And the second on freedom of the mind, which is found only here
and not in other teachings.
The four kinds of sūtras [of which the marking cord is made] are,
namely, white, yellow, red, and black;
What should be thought of as the fifth is, namely, the color of
empty space.
[First,] holding [the cord] level in midair, one demarcates the
maṇḍala [visualized in the air];
Second, one holds a [second] cord and lays it out on the ground of
the ritual site.
The seats of all Tathāgatas and those of the wise sons of the buddhas
Are wondrous lotus flowers pleasing to the mind, praised as
auspicious by the world at large.
As for pratyekabuddhas and śrāvakas, that is to say, those of
[one-]sided knowledge,
One should know that the seats laid out for them are the leaves of
lotuses and blue lotuses.
For heavenly divinities of mundane realms, foremost among whom 32c
are Brahmā and his hosts,
There is the red-colored padma flower, praised as the king of seats.

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As for those below these [gods], mindfully place them as appropriate

in their sections of the site.
There are four kinds of worship, namely, making obeisance with
palms clasped together,
Also kindness and compassion, flowers and incense as given by the
world at large,
And flowers [mentally] generated from one’s hands, and these one
offers up to the world-saviors.
Binding the seal ‘birth from [all the Tathāgata’s] limbs,’ one
observes the bodhi-mind,
And to each of the Tathāgatas and the sons born of them,
With these flawless flowers, fragrant and radiant,
And the Dharma realm having become an [enormous] king of trees,
one makes offerings, to the honored among humans.
Empowered with mantras and freely controlled by samādhi,
Clouds wondrous and vast arise in the Dharma realm,
And from them flowers always rain down everywhere in front of
the buddhas.
For the other mundane gods one should also scatter these flowers,
And when offering them up, conform with their own mantras and
their nature and type.
In this manner unguent and so on should also accord with what is
appropriate.
Hold [the tips of] the thumb and ring finger together: this is called
the auspicious seal.
The flowers and so on to be offered up should be brought to one’s
chest and [then] offered;
In the case of mundane heavenly divinities, one should know that
they are [held] level with the navel.
Alternatively, with the adamantine fist seal or again with the
lotus-flower garland [seal],
[Hold the offering] up in the air and offer it to the guiding teachers,
world-saviors,
And through to the mundane gods, each in their proper order.
There are two kinds of homa, namely, internal and external:

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One obtains liberation from karma and [re]birth, and there is also
the arising of sprouts and seeds [of awakening].
Because it is able to burn away karma, it is called ‘internal homa.’
For external use there are three positions (i.e., practitioner, hearth,
and deity), and these three positions dwell within [each of]
the three.
Accomplishing the path of the three actions88 is the excellent
mundane homa.
Whoever does otherwise does not comprehend the deeds of homa;
Ignorant, he will not obtain any results, having forsaken mantra
knowledge.
Mantras of the Tathāgata Family and those uttered by Perfectly 33a
Awakened Ones
Should be known to be white and yellow, and those of Vajra[pāṇi]
are multicolored;
The mantras of Avalokiteśvara are pure white, and they change
according to the [ritual] deed.
[The altar] is doubly square everywhere [in the center and on the
perimeter] or, in order, circular,
And likewise its shape is described as a triangle or a semilunar disc.
First one should know the physical forms [of the deities]: they have,
namely, male or female bodies.
Moreover, in all places and in accordance with the form and color
of their type,
They are born of inconceivable knowledge, and therefore they are
inconceivable.
There are distinctions in conformity with things, but knowledge and
the realization of knowledge are always one.
One should know that the extensiveness of one’s mind constitutes
their measure,
And so too is it for the seats and seals and also the heavenly divinities.
From that same place whence buddhas are born seals are similarly
born,
And with these seals born of the Dharma [the ācārya] seals his
disciples.

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Therefore, it is taught in brief that the Dharma realm uses these

(i.e., seals) as its insignia.
There are three kinds of consecration—listen wholeheartedly,
Son of the Buddha!
The expedient means with secret seals is dissociated from [other]
actions;
It is called the first excellent method, and one is consecrated by
the Tathāgata.
That which is called the second gives rise to the performance of
many [ritual] deeds.
The third is conferred by the mind and is completelydissociated
from time and place;
In order to please the honored [ācārya], one should perform it as
explained,
And one will be consecrated directly by the Buddha: this is the
most excellent.
The Perfectly Awakened One has explained in brief five kinds
of samaya.
The first is possessing the samaya on seeing a maṇḍala;
Words of truth (i.e., mantras) are not yet transmitted, nor are mystic
seals conferred.
The second samaya is entering and looking at the assembly of
holy divinities.
In the third, complete with altar and seals, one practices wondrous
actions in accordance with the teachings.
Next, [the ācārya grants] permission to transmit the teachings, and
this is described as possessing the [fourth] samaya.
Although one may possess [knowledge of] seals and the positions
[of the deities] in the altar as explained in the teachings,
So long as one has not obtained the consecration of the mind,
secret wisdom does not arise.
33b Therefore, in the center of the secret ritual site the mantrin,
Possessing the fifth pledge (samaya), should be consecrated in
accordance with the rules.

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One should know that anything other than this is not called samaya.
If, well abiding [in the precepts] and meditating on the mind,
the mantrin awakens to the mind
Without apprehending the three loci,89 he is described as a bodhisattva.
Having attained the practice of meditating without any object, he
benefits beings with expedient means
In order to plant the roots of goodness, and therefore he is called
honored among humans.
In dharmas originally quiescent and always without own-nature,
He rests like [Mount] Sume[ru]: this is called seeing the truth.
This emptiness corresponds to the apex of reality, and it is not
false words;
What is seen [by him] is like [that which is seen by] the Buddha,
and previous buddhas have [also] seen thus.
The siddhi of attaining the bodhi-mind is quite unsurpassed;
Apart from this, there is a fivefold distinction among the siddhis:
That is to say, entry into the cultivation of practice, advancing up
through the stages,
The five mundane supernatural faculties, [the state of] buddhas,
and [the state of] pratyekabuddhas and so on.
If one practices unceasingly until the continuum of the mind is pure,
Causing that which has not yet matured to maturate, it is then that
siddhi is accomplished.
In that single moment of time, pure action and the mind are both
identical,
And the mantrin will achieve the arising of siddhi at will:
He ascends into the sky through siddhi like one who is unafraid
of illusions;
His ensorcellments by means of the net of magical arts are like
Indra’s net;
Just like all the people in a gandharva city (i.e., mirage),
So too is the secrecy (i.e., invisibility) of his body, being neither
of the body nor of consciousness.
Again, just as in a dream while asleep one may visit the palaces
of the gods

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Without forsaking this body and without [actually] going there,

So too in yogic dreams, for him who dwells in mantra practices,
His physical appearance born of meritorious actions is like a rainbow.
The wish-fulfilling gem of mantras is born of mind, speech, and body,
And it causes many things to rain down as desired without any
thoughts of differentiation.
33c Just as empty space in the ten directions is dissociated from
conditioned formations,
So too is the mantrin undefiled by any differentiated formations.
Realizing that there is only thought, he observes everything in
this manner,
And then the mantrin rejoices together with the buddhas.
The Perfectly Awakened One, honored among two-legged beings,
has described two kinds of homa,
That is to say, internal and external, and increasing the potency [of
offerings] is also like this.
Having examined the special types and natures of the deities, one
should recognize them.
I shall now explain the limited measure of the mantras of mundane
[gods].
In the case of heavenly divinities known by many, such as the
blessed Īśvara,
The spells uttered by them, as well as the seals of the very
powerful ones,
All have results in the present world, and therefore it is taught that
they have a certain measure.
Even though [results] are accomplished, they are not enduring and
are all characterized by birth and extinction.
Mantras of the supramundane are unproduced and originally unborn;
Karma and [re]birth are completely severed, and, victorious, they
are dissociated from the three faults.90
I shall [now] explain the measure of the mantras of unicornlike
[pratyekabuddhas,] without a teacher,
And of the multitudes of the Buddha’s śrāvakas and of bodhisattvas:
They transcend the three ages and arise from many conditions,

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And their results, visible and invisible, are born of mind, speech,
and body.
The results and their span circulated in the world are for one eon;
The mantras taught by the Perfectly Awakened One go beyond
numbers of eons.
The samādhis of the Great Seer, perfectly awakened, and of the
multitudes of the Buddha’s sons
Are pure and dissociated from thought; those that are associated
with thought are mundane.
In the acquisition of results through action, there is maturation and
a time for maturation;
If one achieves siddhi, one performs actions freely.
Because the mind has no own-nature, it is far removed from cause
and result,
And liberated from karma and [re]birth, one’s birth is commensurate
with empty space.

“Again, Lord of Mysteries, listen attentively! The mystic seals,91 the

appearance [of the deities], the layout of the positions of the holy divinities,
the actual manifestation of their awesome efficacy, and the goals of their
samādhis—these five are the practices of the empty space of the Dharma
realm whereby buddhas of former times accomplished bodhi, and their orig-
inal vow was to liberate realms of beings without remainder out of a desire 34a
to benefit and make happy those bodhisattvas cultivating bodhisattva prac-
tices via the gateway of mantras.”
Vajrapāṇi said, “So be it, World-honored One. I am eager to listen.”
Then the Bhagavān spoke in verse:

First, the layout of the maṇḍala of the Perfectly Awakened One,

That born of the matrix of great compassion, the [most] secret
of secrets,
As well as immeasurable mundane and supramundane maṇḍalas—
All the figures for these I shall explain in proper order. Be sure
to listen.
[The maṇḍala] is square all around, with one entrance and a
passageway;

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It is adorned right around with vajra seals, and in the center is a

karma-vajra (crossed vajra),
On top of which is a wondrous lotus flower, open and containing
seeds.
On it is the seal of a great lotus, adorned with great dots of emptiness;
Its eight petals are perfectly arranged and lovely, with stamens.
The syllables born of the twelve-limbed [mantra]92 are [placed] right
around the inside of the flowery pedestal,
On top of which [sits] the Guiding Teacher and Perfectly Awakened
One, honored among two-legged beings,
Himself surrounded by attendants on eight maṇḍalas.93
You should know that this is foremost, the maṇḍala “Born of
Compassion.”
From this there emanate the [other] altars (i.e., maṇḍalas), each in
accordance with their own teachings,
Together with [ritual] deeds, shapes, siddhi, and installation of the
Buddha’s sons (i.e., deities).
Next, Lord of Mysteries, the Tathāgata’s maṇḍala
Is [circular] like a clear round moon, manifesting the color of a
śaṅkha within.
The triangle of all buddhas is on a white lotus flower [in
the center],
Marked with dots of emptiness and surrounded by vajra seals.
From the mantra-lord (i.e., the central deity) light rays are emitted
all around,
And without any doubt they issue forth everywhere.
Next, Lord of Mysteries, to the secret maṇḍala
Of Avalokiteśvara listen singlemindedly, O Son of the Buddha.
It has the appearance of a square right around, with an auspicious
śaṅkha in the center,
Which puts forth a padma flower, open and containing seeds.
Above, adamantine wisdom is represented [by a vajra], which bears
the seal of a great lotus,
34b Arrayed with seed[-syllables], skillfully made to represent his
seed[-syllables].

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 Fascicle Five

Tārā, Bhṛkuṭī, and the honored one Pāṇḍaravāsinī,

The vidyārājñī Bhogavatī and Mahāsthāmaprāpta,
Auspicious ones and servants are all in the maṇḍala.
For the seals of these who have obtained mastery, make their
insignia especially fine.
Hayagrīva resides in a triangle as prescribed,
Surrounded by the maṇḍalas [of his attendants], imposingly fine,
like the first light of day,
Which he of skillful wisdom should install beside the vidyārāja
(i.e., Hayagrīva).
Next, Lord of Mysteries, I shall now explain the second altar:
It has the appearance of a perfect square and is surrounded by
vajra seals;
It is all a fine golden color, with a lotus flower laid out in the center.
In the center [of the flower] a kalaśa (flask) appears, its lucent color
like that of a clear moon,
And it is encircled by large dots of emptiness, with which it is
adorned.
On top [of the flask] there is displayed the seal of great wind (i.e.,
a half moon), overcast [in color] like dark clouds;
It has the appearance of a waving banner and is marked with a dot
of emptiness.
Above, it produces fierce flames, like the fire of the [fire] calamity
[at the end] of an eon,
Made triangular in shape, and surrounded by triangles.
It is encircled right around with a wreath of rays, the color of early
morning sunlight.
Within it is a padma, dark red like the fire [at the end] of an eon,
And a vajra seal on top scatters forth fiery radiance;
It has the excellent seed-syllable with the sound of the letter Hūṃ.
Previous buddhas have explained this rite, the maṇḍala of [you,]
the Striving Hero.
The mother of the [Vajra] Family (Māmakī), [Vajra]śṛṅkhalā, the
lord of the Vajra Family,
Vajrāṅkuśī, [Vajra]sūcī, and vidyārājas94 of great virtue

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

Are all inside this great maṇḍala.

The seals, altars, and form and color of the Buddha’s sons (i.e.,
deities), each in sequence,
Conform with their category [so that] the [ritual] deeds may well
succeed.
Next, there are those sovereign over the vajra (i.e., vajradharas)
whom I have described:
Namely, Gaganāmala, Vajracakra, [Vajra]daṃṣṭra,
34c Sūrata, Vikhyāta, Mahābhāga,95 Vajrāgra,
Śiva[vajra], Mahāvajra, Nīlavajra,
[Vajra]padma, Viśālanetra, Suvajra[dhara], Vajra,
Aprapañcavihārin, and Gaganānantavikrama.
Their maṇḍalas are described as white, yellow, red,
And the color black, and the shapes of their seals and so on—
Three-spiked, a single-pronged seal, double-headed with five prongs
at both ends,
Or the wreath of a vajradhara—are distinguished according to their
color category.
For all fashion seed[-syllables], and know that they have great merit.
The maṇḍala of Acala has both a circle of wind and of fire;
He is in the direction of Nairṛti (i.e., southwest), below the Tathāgata
Vairocana,
Surrounded by seed[-syllables], and a sublime great wisdom sword
Or a noose seal he who possesses wisdom lays out.
Trailokyavijaya is different in that he is in a wind circle,
Surrounded by vajra seals, and dwells in three places.96
Next, Lord of Mysteries, I shall first explain in the maṇḍala
How to install the altar figure of the mother of buddhas and
bodhisattvas.
Square, the color of genuine gold, and surrounded by vajra seals:
This is the supreme maṇḍala, and I shall now reveal the appearance
of the deities.
In its center is a large lotus flower, blazing radiantly and completely
yellow in color,
In the middle of which is placed the Tathāgata-Crown; going past
the middle subsection,

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 Fascicle Five

And on reaching the third subsection, one should fashion Tathāgata-

locanā (= Buddhalocanā):
She dwells in the midst of blazing light, and her seed[-syllables] are
arrayed all around.
Next is the honored Great Wish-fulfilling Jewel of all
bodhisattvas,
Whose maṇḍala is a white circle with a cross,97
Is completely tranquil and very pure, and fulfills all wishes.
Next, you should listen attentively to the altar of Śākyasiṃha
(i.e., Śākyamuni),
Which is a great indra (mahendra) [circle]: it is exquisite and the
color of genuine gold,
Its four sides are equal to each other, and as before there is a vajra
seal [in the center],
On top of which there appears a padma, with a yellow radiance 35a
all around.
A large almsbowl [on top of the lotus] has blazing light and is
surrounded by vajra seals;
Place a kāṣā[ya] (monk’s robe), staff, and so on in their proper order.
As for the five kinds of Tathāgata-Crowns,98 listen attentively as
I now explain them:
Sitātapatra [is represented] by a parasol seal; Jayoṣṇīṣa, endowed
with wisdom,
Is surrounded by swords of great wisdom which all emit light right
around;
For Vijayoṣṇīṣa a disc seal; for Vikiraṇoṣṇīṣa a hook seal;
A great being’s attribute of a topknot—this is called the seal of
Tejorāśi;
For Mahodgata a vajra, for Abhyudgata a lotus flower,
And for Anantasvaraghoṣa a śaṅkha—know their image types
by observation.
For Ūrṇā a maṇi-gem; next you should listen to Buddhalocanā’s:
It is a topknot, completely yellow in color and surrounded by vajras.
The seal of Aparājitā is a lotus flower held in her hand;
Aparājita’s is a large mouth on a black lotus.

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The so-called gods of Pure Abode (Śuddhāvāsa), whose conduct

purifies the objective realm—
Son of the Buddha, you should listen attentively to how to place
their seal-marks:
Namely, a hand [representing] contemplation, a hand [representing]
goodness, a hand [representing] a smile,
A hand [holding] a flower, and a hand [representing] empty space—
draw these in accordance with the rules.
[The insignia of] Pṛthivī is a kalaśa in a white circle surrounded
by vajras.
For the seal for summoning Agni one should use the hand of
a great seer.
Kāśya[pa], Gautama, Mārkaṇḍa, Garga,
Vasi[ṣṭha], and [Aṅ]giras—each [of these seers] in their proper order
Should be drawn with a hand [representing] the Vedas inside a
fire altar (i.e., red triangle).
For Yama a daṇḍa (staff) seal which is always in a wind circle;
For Mṛtyu a bell seal, for Kālarātri a ketu (banner) seal,
For Rudra a śūla (trident), for Great Brahmā’s consort (Brahmāṇī)
a lotus flower,
For Kaumārī a śakti (lance), and for Viṣṇu’s woman (Vaiṣṇavī)
a disc seal;
You should know that Yama’s consort (Yamī) [is represented] by a
mudgara (mallet) seal,
And Kauberī, the consort [of Kubera], uses a kapāla (skull) seal.
35b These are all in wind maṇḍalas
And are surrounded by crows, eagles, bhāsas (vultures), jackals,
and so on.
If you wish to accomplish siddhi, draw them in accordance with
the rules.
For Nairṛti a large sword, for Viṣṇu a fine disc,
For Kumāra a śakti, and for Nanda and Upananda
Thick clouds with lightning; [Nanda and Upananda] both have the
complexion of a clear pool
And render assistance in the sentry posts on either side of the
entrance in Śākyasiṃha’s altar.

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For Śaṃkara a trident, and for his consort fashion the seal of a
paṭṭi[śa] (spear with three points);
For Candra a kalaśa, pure white and placed on a lotus flower;
Āditya, in a vajra circle, is represented by the figure of a chariot;
Know that Jayā and Vijayā, the very powerful ones,
Are both [represented] by the seal of a large bow in a [great] indra
circle.
In the direction of Vāyu (i.e., northwest) is the seal of a banner
[waving] in the wind, for Sarasvatī the seal of a musical
instrument (vīṇā),
And for Varuṇa a noose in a circular altar,
Which you, Great Self, should know is encircled by seed-syllables.
These insignia are in sequence those of Śākyasiṃha’s attendants
In the maṇḍala, which I have now finished describing in brief.
Son of the Buddha, next listen attentively to the altar of Varadavajra
(Mañjuśrī):
Its four sides are equal to each other right around, and it is protected
by vajra seals.
In the center fashion a [triangular] maṇḍala born of fire;
In its center further install the seal of an exquisite blue lotus,
Surrounded by the mantra of the wise one Mañjughoṣa—
Array seed[-syllables] in accordance with the rules, making of them
his seed[-syllables].
Then adorn the four sides with blue lotuses
And draw a multitude of striving heroes, each in their proper order.
Jālinīprabha [is represented] by a hook seal, Ratnamukuṭa has a
jewel seal,
And for the youth Vimalaprabha a blue lotus not yet open.
As for the messengers described for Mañjughoṣa, possessing
great wisdom,
You should know their mystic seals, each as is appropriate:
For Keśinī a sword seal; for Upa[keśinī] a śūla seal; 35c
For Citrā a staff seal; Vasumatī [is represented] by a banner seal;
And the messenger Ākarṣaṇī by an aṅkuśi (hook) seal.
Do everything in this manner and surround them with blue lotus
flowers;

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

All the servants [are represented by] khaṅgari (knife) seals.

Next, the seal in the southern quarter is Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin’s,
The seed of great energy, namely, a cintāmaṇi,
Which resides in a fire circle, flanked by fine-looking multitudes.
You should know the secret insignia of his attendants,
And you should draw them in sequence: I shall now describe them
in full.
Kautūhala [is represented] by a jeweled flask with a single-pronged
vajra placed [on top];
For the holy one Abhayaṃdada fashion the hand [gesture] of
bestowing fearlessness;
Sarvāpāyaṃjaha is characterized by a hand being raised;
The bodhisattva Paritrāṇāśayamati always has the hand [gesture]
of compassion over his heart;
The bodhisattva Mahāmaitryabhyudgata should [be represented]
by a hand holding a flower;
For Karuṇāmṛḍita a hand over his heart with the middle finger
bent down;
For Sarvadāhapraśāmin fashion the hand [gesture] of granting wishes,
With nectarous water flowing forth from the tips of the fingers;
And for Acintyamati a hand holding a wish-fulfilling gem.
All reside on lotus flowers within maṇḍalas.
Next, I shall explain the mystic seal of the honored one Kṣitigarbha
in the northern quarter.
First, fashion a decorated seat in a [great] indra altar,
[On top of which] is a great lotus emitting blazing light variegated
with many colors;
On top of this erect a great banner with a great jewel on its tip:
This is called supreme, the form of his mystic seal.
Then you should diligently fashion the mudrās
Of the immeasurable and innumerable multitudes of his foremost
attendants.
For Ratnākara99 a three-pronged vajra seal on a jewel;
For Ratnapāṇi a single-pronged vajra seal on a jewel;
36a For Dharaṇiṃdhara a double-headed vajra seal on a jewel;

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For Ratnamudrāhasta a five-pronged vajra seal on a jewel;

And for Dṛḍhādhyāśaya a karma-vajra seal:
All these should reside in their maṇḍalas.
In the western quarter Ākāśagarbha is in an altar that is round,
white, and pleasing to the mind;
On a great white lotus-flower seat place the seal of a great wisdom
sword,
Whose hard and keen blade is sharp like hoarfrost.
With [Ākāśagarbha’s] own seed[-syllables] as seed[-syllables], the
wise person should arrange them,
As well as drawing the forms of the seals of his attendants in
accordance with the ritual instructions.
The honored one Gaganāmala should [be represented] by a disc seal,
Itself surrounded by figures of discs and all in a wind altar;
For Gaganamati a śaṅkha in a wind maṇḍala;
For Viśuddhamati a white lotus in a wind maṇḍala;
The seal-mark of Cāritramati should [be represented] by a seashell
flask
With a blue lotus flower inserted on top in a wind maṇḍala;
And for Sthiramati a vajra [on top of] a lotus in a wind maṇḍala.
I have finished explaining in brief the mystic seals of the deities in
the Buddha’s secret treasury.

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 Chapter XII

The Ritual for Entering the

Secret Maṇḍala

Thereupon the World-honored One next proclaimed the ritual for entering
the Secret Maṇḍala with an udāna:

He who is fully learned in mantras and has mastered the Secret Altar
Burns away for his disciple all his sins in accordance with the rules.
He completely extinguishes [the disciple’s] life so that it is never
reborn,
And having been reduced to ashes, his life is again restored.
That is to say, with a letter (i.e., Ra) [representing fire] he burns a
letter (i.e., A) [representing the disciple’s body],
And on the basis of a letter (i.e., Va) [representing water] he is born
again.
All his lives and births are [now] pure and completely unsullied,
And the twelve component syllables are formed on that receptacle.100
With this samaya he is equal to and not at variance with
All Tathāgatas and world-saving bodhisattvas,
As well as multitudes of the Buddha’s śrāvakas and mundane [gods]. 36b
He who understands this pledge of equality in the Secret Maṇḍala
Enters all ritual teachings and obtains mastery of all altars (i.e.,
maṇḍalas).
My (i.e., Vairocana’s) body is equal to his, and so too in the case of
the mantrin,
For they are not different: this is called samaya.101

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 Chapter XIII

Entry to the Station of the

Secret Maṇḍala

Thereupon the World-honored One Mahāvairocana entered a samādhi of men-

tal attainment (samāpatti), and in order to observe beings in future ages he
dwelled in meditation. Immediately the buddha lands became flat like the
palm of a hand, studded with the five precious things, hung with a great jew-
eled canopy, and adorned with archways, which had multicolored pennants,
long and broad in appearance, and jeweled bells, white whisks, fine raiments,
and bannered ornaments hanging prettily as decoration for them; in the cor-
ners in the eight directions maṇi-standards stood erect, and there were vari-
ous bathing pools brimming with water that possessed eight special quali-
ties102 and was fragrant, where immeasurable birds such as mandarin ducks,
geese, and swans emitted elegant sounds and where seasonal flowers and
sundry trees flourished and stood at intervals in rows, luxuriant and impos-
ingly lovely; in the eight directions strings of the five precious things were
linked together; the ground was soft, like cotton, and those who touched and
trod on it all experienced pleasure; immeasurable musical instruments played
naturally in harmony, their sounds exquisite and such that people would want
to listen; and there were palaces, halls, and mentally produced seats created
in response to the merits of immeasurable bodhisattvas. There appeared a
great king of lotus flowers, the insignia of the Dharma realm, born by virtue
of the Tathāgata’s vow of faith-and-understanding, and the Tathāgata’s body,
having the nature of the Dharma realm, was resting in the middle of it and
bringing joy to beings in accordance with their various inclinations.
Then, from all the Tathāgata’s limbs, whose strength cannot be impeded,
there immediately emerged signs of adornment with immeasurable shapes
and colors born of faith-and-understanding in the ten powers of wisdom,
bodies that had been nurtured by the merits of the perfections of giving,

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

morality, forbearance, energy, meditation, and wisdom over incalculable

hundreds of thousands of koṭis of nayutas of eons. When they had emerged,
in great assemblies throughout all world-systems they uttered these verses
in a loud voice:

The buddhas are most remarkable, and their expedients and

knowledge are inconceivable;
Their wisdom without any ālaya (substratum) incorporates the
exposition of dharmas.
If one understands the dharma-marks of dharmas which are
inapprehensible,
One will apprehend that which is not apprehended and obtain [the
state of] the buddhas and Guiding Teachers.

When they had uttered these sounds, they reentered the inconceivable
Dharma body of the Tathāgata.
36c Then the World-honored One again addressed the vajradhara Lord of
Mysteries, saying, “Good sir, listen attentively to [the exposition of] the inter-
nal maṇḍala. Lord of Mysteries, the bodily site (i.e., one’s body) is empow-
ered by the empowerment of mantras and mystic seals which have the own-
nature of the Dharma realm, for their original nature is pure. Through the
protection of Karma-Vajra[sattva] all defilements are cleansed away, [that
is,] the stumplike faults such as [beliefs in] a self, a person, a being, a life-
force, mind-born, youngster, and a creator.103
“A square altar, it has four entrances, is accessed from the west, and is
encircled by a boundary path. Inside there appears a great king of lotus flow-
ers, born of the mind and eight-petaled: it has a stalk and is spread with sta-
mens, brightly colored, and beautiful. In its center is a Tathāgata, the body
of the most revered in all worlds, who has transcended the levels of body,
speech, and mind, reached the mind-ground, and attained results that are spe-
cial and pleasing to the mind. To his east is the Tathāgata Ratnaketu, in the
south is the Tathāgata Saṃkusumitarāja, in the north is the Tathāgata Dun-
dubhisvara, in the west is the Tathāgata Amitāyus, in the southeast is the
bodhisattva Samantabhadra, in the northeast is the bodhisattva Avalokiteś-
vara, in the southwest is the bodhisattva Mañjuśrīkumārabhūta, and in the
northwest is the bodhisattva Maitreya. Among all the stamens is the Mother

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of buddhas and bodhisattvas, adorned with her attendant six pāramitās and
samādhis. Below are arrayed multitudes of vidyādharas and wrathful ones.
The bodhisattva Lord of Vajradharas (i.e., Vajrapāṇi) acts as its stalk, and it
is situated in an inexhaustible ocean, encircled by all earth-dwelling gods
and so on, immeasurable in their number.
“Then the practitioner, in order to accomplish the samaya, should, with
incense, flowers, lamps, unguents, and various dishes born of the mind, make
to it offerings of them all. An udāna says:

The mantrin should conscientiously draw the maṇḍala;

Regarding his own person as the Great Self, he purifies the sullies
with the letter Ra.
Resting in the yoga posture, he thinks of the Tathāgatas,
And bestows on the heads of the disciples the letter A with a great
dot of emptiness (i.e., Aṃ).
The wise person hands fine flowers [to the disciples] and has them
scatter them over his own person.
He explains to them the places [in the maṇḍala] to be revered by the
practitioners which he sees within [himself].
Since this is the supreme altar, he should confer [on them] the
samaya.”

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 Chapter XIV

The Eight Secret Seals

Thereupon the World-honored One Vairocana again gazed upon the entire
great assembly and addressed the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries, saying, “Son
of the Buddha, there are eight secret seals which are most secret. [When used
in] the stations of the holy divinities [in the maṇḍala], their awesome divin- 37a
ity is the same [as that of the deities]; they are characterized by their own
mantra path (i.e., mantras) and have [their own] maṇḍalas, and one should
intercorrespond with them as with one’s own deity. If they rely on [this] rit-
ual teaching, bodhisattvas cultivating bodhisattva practices via the gateway
of mantras should know that they themselves will dwell in the form of their
own deity, firm and unmoving, and after having known [the state of] their
own deity, they will abide in the manner of their own deity and obtain siddhi.
“What are the eight seals? With the right and left hands form the hol-
low hand-clasp and spread the little fingers and forefingers apart as if to radi-
ate blazing light. This is the seal ‘birth of the World-honored One’s great
majesty.’ Its maṇḍala is triangular and has rays of light. The mantra is: Namaḥ
samantabuddhānāṃ, raṃ raḥ svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! Raṃ raḥ!
svāhā!) [248]
“Then with this [same] seal, bend the forefingers [down] on top of the
thumbs like the shape of the [Sanskrit] letter Va. This is the seal ‘adaman-
tine indestructibility of the World-honored One.’ Its maṇḍala is like the let-
ter Va in appearance (i.e., round) and has adamantine light. The mantra is:
Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, vaṃ vaḥ svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! Vaṃ
vaḥ! svāhā!) [249]
“Then, with the first seal, spread the ring fingers and middle fingers
apart. This is called ‘lotus-flower matrix seal.’ Its maṇḍala is like a lunar
disc in appearance and is surrounded by padma flowers. The mantra is:
Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, saṃ saḥ svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! Saṃ
saḥ! svāhā!) [250]

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

“Then, with this [same] seal, bend the two little fingers and insert them
in between the palms. This is the seal ‘adornment with the Tathāgata’s myr-
iad virtues.’ Its maṇḍala is like a half-moon in shape and is surrounded by
great dots of emptiness. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, haṃ
haḥ svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! Haṃ haḥ! svāhā!) [251]
“Then, with the left and right hands form the hand-clasp [hollow] like
an unopened flower, raise the two thumbs, and bend them slightly. This is
the seal ‘birth from all the Tathāgata’s limbs.’ Its maṇḍala is in shape like a
kalaśa, [round like] a full moon, and is surrounded by vajras. The mantra
is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, aṃ aḥ svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! Aṃ
aḥ! svāhā!) [252]
“Then, with this [same] seal, bend the middle fingers; the appearance
of the remaining [fingers] is as before. This is the seal ‘World-honored One’s
dhāraṇī.’ Its maṇḍala is like a rainbow, and it is completely surrounded [by
the insignia surrounding the foregoing maṇḍalas] and is hung with a vajra-
37b banner. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, buddhadhāraṇi smṛti-
baladhānakari dharaya sarvaṃ bhagavaty ākāravati samaye svāhā. (Homage
to all Buddhas! O Buddha’s memory! you who act as the receptacle of the
power of remembrance! uphold everything! O Blessed Lady of [fine] form!
pledge! svāhā!) [253]
“Then, with the hollow hand-clasp, spread the middle fingers apart,
while the little fingers and thumbs are joined together to support each other.
This is called ‘seal of the Tathāgata’s abiding state of the Dharma.’ Its maṇḍala
is like empty space, surrounded by variegated colors, and it has two dots of
emptiness. The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, ā vedavide svāhā.
(Homage to all Buddhas. Ā! O you who are conversant with [sacred] knowl-
edge! svāhā!) [254]
“As before, make the hollow hand-clasp and, with the right and left
hands placed together, rotate them. This is called ‘seal of the World-honored
One’s swift support.’ Its maṇḍala is again like empty space; use blue dots
to decorate it.104 The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, mahāyoga-
yogini yogeśvari khāñjalike svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! O yoginī of the
great yoga! mistress of yoga! you of the hollow hand-clasp! svāhā!) [255]
“Lord of Mysteries, these are called the secret seals of the Tathāgata, and
they are supreme and secret. You should not confer them indiscriminately on

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people, except on those who have been consecrated, are adaptable in nature,
diligent and firm, have made special vows, revere their teacher, think of those
to whom they are indebted, are pure within and without, and renounce their
own bodies and lives in seeking the Dharma.”

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 Chapter XV

The Prohibitory Precepts

for Reciting Vidyās

Thereupon Vajrapāṇi, for the sake of bodhisattvas cultivating bodhisattva

practices via the gateway of mantras, further asked the World-honored One
Vairocana in verse about the prohibitory precepts for reciting vidyās.

How does one accomplish the prohibitory precepts? How does one
abide in śīla?
How does one practice in any situation, free from attachments?
For how long does one practice before the prohibitory precepts
come to an end?
Abiding in which ritual teachings does one recognize their potency?
Freedom from time, place, activity, and right and wrong—
How does one quickly accomplish [this]? I beg the Buddha to
explain that length [of time].
About that which was taught by previous buddhas, which brings
about siddhi,
I ask the Omniscient One, perfectly awakened and honored among
two-legged beings,
For the sake of future beings. May you who are honored among
humans bear witness [to my true intent]!

Then Bhagavān Vairocana, out of pity for beings, spoke these verses: 37c

Excellent, O Striving Hero, Vajradhara of great virtue!

The special precepts of which you have spoken were expounded by
buddhas of yore.
The precepts that arise in dependence on vidyās—abide in these
precepts like a perfectly awakened one,

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The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

And they will bring about the accomplishment of siddhi for the
benefit of the world.
Generating the truth of the self, and without engendering any
doubting thoughts,
One always abides in mental equipoise, and [then] the cultivation of
the precepts will end.
If the bodhi-mind and dharmas, as well as training, action, and results,
Are combined into a single characteristic, one will be far removed
from all activities;
One will be like the Buddha’s knowledge in one’s possession of the
precepts, and anyone who does otherwise does not possess the
precepts.
One will gain sovereignty over all dharmas and master how to
benefit beings,
And if one always cultivates the practice of nonattachment, pebbles
and jewels will be alike.
When one reaches a full lakṣa or the number of mantra [recitations]
explained,105
Or when one completes the [prescribed] period, the length [of time]
for [observing] the prohibitory precepts comes to an end.
First, with the meditation on the golden (i.e., earth) circle,106 and
dwelling in the great indra [circle],
One should bind the vajra seal and drink milk so as to nourish
the body,
And when one month has passed, the practitioner will be able to
control his breath going out and coming in.
Next, in the second month, carefully arranging himself in the water
circle,
He should use the lotus-flower seal and imbibe pure water.
Next, in the third month, with the meditation on the most wondrous
fire circle,
He eats food which he has not sought out, and for the seal he uses
the great wisdom sword;
He will burn up all sins produced by body, speech, and mind.
In the fourth month, with [the meditation on] the wind circle,
the practitioner constantly ingests wind,

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 Fascicle Five

And binding the seal for turning the Dharma wheel, he recites with
his mind concentrated.
With the meditation on the adamantine (i.e., earth) and water circles,
he abides in yoga:
This is in the fifth month, and far removed from gain and non-gain,
The practitioner, without attachment, becomes like a saṃbuddha.107
Combining the wind and fire circles, and beyond all faults,
He recites for another month, abandoning profit and non-profit. 38a
Heavenly hosts such as Brahmā, Śakra, and so on, maho[ragas],
and piśācas
Will salute him from afar, will all protect him,
And all will carry out his commands—he will always obtain this
[state].
Humans, gods, divinities of medicinal herbs, vidyādharas, and
numinous transcendents
Will attend upon him on his left and right and do as he commands.
Wicked obstructors, rākṣasas, the Seven Mothers, and so on,
Seeing the mantrin, will revere him while keeping their distance,
And seeing the radiance of that place [where he is], they will scatter
as if it were a raging fire.
In accordance with the ritual teachings by which he abides, and all
because he follows the prohibitions for vidyās,
The true son of the Perfectly Awakened One will gain sovereignty
over everything.
He will subjugate those difficult to vanquish, like the Great Vajradhara,
And he will bring benefit to living beings, just like Avalokiteśvara.
When six months have elapsed, he will achieve results according to
his wishes,
And he will always take pity on and save himself and others.

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 Chapter XVI

The True Knowledge of the Ācārya

Thereupon the vajradhara [Vajrapāṇi] next further asked the World-honored

One Mahāvairocana about the essence of the mantras of the maṇḍalas, utter-
ing these verses:

“What is the essence of all mantras, or true speech?

What should one understand so as to be called an ācārya?”
Then the Bhagavān Mahāvairocana
Exhorted Vajrapāṇi, [saying,] “Excellent, Mahāsattva!”
And making his heart rejoice, he further addressed him with these
words:
“How to understand the most secret of secrets, the great essence of
the knowledge of mantras—
I shall now explain it for you: with singlemindedness you should
listen attentively!
The letter A is the essence of all mantras,
And from it there issue forth everywhere immeasurable mantras;
All frivolous arguments cease, and it is able to produce skillful
wisdom.
Lord of Mysteries, why is [the letter A] the essence of all mantras?
The Buddha, honored among two-legged beings, has taught that the 38b
letter A is called the seed.
Therefore, everything is like this, [having the letter A as its seed,]
and it rests in all the limbs;108
Having allocated it as appropriate, bestow it everywhere in
accordance with the rules.
Because that primordial letter (i.e., A) pervades the augmented
letters,109
The letters form sounds, and the limbs arise from this.

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

Therefore, this pervades all bodies and produces various virtues.

I shall now explain where [the letters] are to be distributed: listen
singlemindedly, Son of the Buddha!
Assign the essence (i.e., A) to your heart and allocate the remaining
[letters] to your limbs.110
If you do everything in this manner, then you will be identical to
my person.
Resting in the yoga posture, think of the Tathāgatas.
If one comprehends this vast knowledge in these teachings,
The Perfectly Awakened One, of great virtue, has taught that [such a
person] is an ācārya.
He is a Tathāgata and is also called a Buddha,
A bodhisattva, Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Mahe[śva]ra,
Āditya, Candra, Varuṇa, Śakra, Lord of the World (Prajāpati),
Kālarātri, Yama, and so on, Pṛthivī, Sarasvatī,
A brahman, and an initiated householder,111 and is also called a
celibate,
A monk who has exhausted his outflows (āśrava), auspicious, a
holder of secrets,
All-knowing and all-seeing, sovereign over dharmas, and wealthy.112
If one dwells in the bodhi-mind and in the nature of the knowledge
of sound,
And is not attached to any dharmas, one is called all-pervading;
This is a mantrin, a holder of auspicious mantras,
A king of true speech (i.e., mantras), and the seal of Vajradhara.
If the entire wheel of letters is [to be placed] on one’s limbs,
One should know that between the eyebrows there resides the letter
Hūṃ, the locus of the Vajra (i.e., Vajrapāṇi);
The letter Sa is below the chest, and this is called the locus of the
Lotus (i.e., Padmapāṇi).
I (i.e., A) am identical with the position of the heart, sovereign
everywhere,
And universally pervade various sentient and non-sentient beings.
The letter A is primary life, the letter Va is called ‘water,’
38c The letter Ra is called ‘fire,’ the letter Hūṃ is called ‘wrath,’

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 Fascicle Five

The letter Kha is the same as empty space, and [it has,] namely, the
dot of ultimate emptiness (resulting in Khaṃ).
He who knows this supreme truth is called an ācārya.
Therefore, one should with expedient means understand what was
taught by the Buddha,
And if one constantly practices with diligence, one will attain the
deathless state.”

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 Chapter XVII

The Allocation of the Letters

Thereupon the World-honored One again addressed Vajrapāṇi, saying:

Next, Lord of Mysteries, listen singlemindedly, O Son of the Buddha,

To how to arrange the letter-gateways as taught by the buddhas.
The letter Ka is below the larynx; the letter Kha is on the palate;
The letter Ga is identified with the neck; the letter Gha is inside the
throat;
The letter Ca is identified with the tongue; the letter Cha is in the
middle of the tongue;
The letter Ja is identified with the tip of the tongue; the letter Jha is
where the tongue arises;
The letter Ṭa is identified with the shanks; the letter Ṭ̌ha should be
known as the thighs;
The letter Ḍa is explained as the hips; the letter Ḍha is the buttocks;
The letter Ta is the anus; the letter Tha should be known as the
abdomen;
The letter Da is identified with both hands; the letter Dha is called
the armpits;
The letter Pa is identified with the back; the letter Pha should be
known as the chest;
The letter Ba is identified with both upper arms; the letter Bha is
identified with the lower arms;
The letter Ma resides in the heart; the letter Ya is the genitals;
The letter Ra is called the eyes; the letter La is identified with the
forehead;
I and Ī are in both canthi; U and Ū are identified with both lips;
E and Ai are identified with both ears; O and Au are identified with
both cheeks;

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The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

The letter Aṃ is the locus of bodhi;113 and the letter Aḥ is

parinirvāṇa.114
Knowing this entire method, the practitioner will accomplish
perfect awakening;
The assets of an omniscient one will always be in his heart,
And the world will call him “omniscient”: this is termed a sarvajña
(omniscient one).

[End of] Fascicle Five of the Scripture of the

Enlightenment, Supernatural Transformations,
and Empowerment of Mahāvairocana

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 Fascicle Six 39a

Chapter XVIII

Receiving the Code of Training

with Expedient Means

Thereupon the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries said to the Buddha, “World-

honored One, I beg you to explain the basis of training of bodhisattvas and
mahāsattvas, endowed with wisdom and expedient means, which causes
those among bodhisattvas and mahāsattvas who take refuge in it to be with-
out uncertainty and free from doubting thoughts and to be always inde-
structible in the course of transmigration through birth-and-death.”
When he had finished speaking thus, the World-honored One Vairocana
gazed upon the entire Dharma realm with the eyes of a Tathāgata and
addressed the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries, saying, “Listen attentively,
Vajrapāṇi! I shall now explain the path of skillful practice. If a bodhisattva
and mahāsattva abides in this, he will gain mastery of the Great Vehicle.
Lord of Mysteries, the bodhisattva keeps the precept of not taking life, which
should not be done; he keeps [the precepts against] the taking of what is not
given, sexual misconduct, mendacious speech, harsh speech, slanderous
speech, meaningless speech,115 covetousness, anger, and wrong views, in all
of which he should not engage. Lord of Mysteries, this basis of training the
bodhisattva practices in accordance with the training in the same way as do
the perfectly awakened World-honored Ones and bodhisattvas; in this man-
ner should he train.”
Then the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries said to the Buddha, “The World-
honored Bhagavān has also explained this path of ten wholesome actions for
the śrāvaka vehicle, and people in the world at large and non-Buddhists too

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

are always desirous of cultivating the path of ten wholesome actions. World-
honored One, what are the differences with those? What are its various spe-
cial qualities?”
When the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries had finished speaking thus, the
Buddha addressed him, saying, “Excellent, excellent, Lord of Mysteries! It
is indeed excellent that you have asked the Tathāgata about this matter. Lord
of Mysteries, you should listen attentively as I now explain the Dharma gate-
way of the different paths and the one path. Lord of Mysteries, in the case
of the code of training for the śrāvaka vehicle, [though] I have taught it, it
is divorced from wisdom and expedient means, enjoins the achievement [of
morality], fosters [one-]sided knowledge, and is not the same as practicing
the path of ten wholesome actions. World[ling]s, furthermore, because they
are divorced from attachment to the [petty] self, are subject to another cause
(i.e., the divine self). The bodhisattva[, on the other hand,] cultivates the
39b Great Vehicle, enters the equality of all dharmas, and embraces wisdom and
expedient means, and his actions unfold for the sake of both himself and oth-
ers. Therefore, Lord of Mysteries, the bodhisattva here takes hold of wis-
dom and expedient means, enters the equality of all dharmas, and should be
diligent in his training.”
Then the World-honored One again gazed upon the realms of beings
with eyes of great compassion and addressed the bodhisattva Vajrapāṇi, say-
ing, “Lord of Mysteries, those bodhisattvas keep the precept of not taking
life for as long as they live. They should forsake the sword and the rod, be
free from murderous intent, and guard the life of another as if it were their
own. There is [also] another expedient means: in order to liberate some kinds
of beings from retribution for evil deeds in accordance with their deeds, [the
taking of life] is [on occasion] carried out, but without thoughts of enmity
or animosity.
“Next, Lord of Mysteries, the bodhisattva keeps the precept against tak-
ing what is not given. With regard to possessions belonging to others, he
does not give rise to thoughts of touching or taking them, let alone taking
other things that are not given. There is [also] another expedient means: if
he sees beings who are miserly, hoard things, and do not cultivate the merit
of giving, then, according to their kind, and in order to counter their miser-
liness, he performs [the act of] giving on their behalf, free from [thoughts

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 Fascicle Six

of] self and other. Therefore, when praising [the act of giving, he says that]
if one gives, one will acquire a fine appearance and so on. Lord of Myster-
ies, if a bodhisattva engenders thoughts of covetousness and touches or takes
[what is not given], this bodhisattva will fall back from the factors conducive
to bodhi and violate the unconditioned Vinaya rules.
“Next, Lord of Mysteries, the bodhisattva keeps the precept of not com-
mitting adultery. In the case of [wives] belonging to others, his own wife,
[women of] his own clan, and [women] protected by a [religious] sign, he
does not engender thoughts of covetousness, let alone engage in improper
physical intercourse. There is [also] another expedient means: in accordance
with those who ought to be delivered, he may [perform such acts in order
to] safeguard beings.
“Next, Lord of Mysteries, the bodhisattva keeps the precept of not lying
for as long as he lives. Even for the sake of saving his life, he should not lie,
for this would betray the buddhas’ bodhi. Lord of Mysteries, this is called the
bodhisattva’s abiding in the supreme Great Vehicle. If one lies, one violates
the dharma of the Buddha’s bodhi. Therefore, Lord of Mysteries, you should
know this Dharma gateway in this manner and renounce untruthful speech.
“Next, Lord of Mysteries, the bodhisattva observes the precept of not
engaging in harsh abuse. He should embrace beings with the speech of gen-
tle thoughts and with words that are appropriate. Why? Lord of Mysteries,
the first practice of the bodhisattva is to bring benefit and happiness to beings.
Alternatively, another bodhisattva, seeing someone dwelling in a cause of
[rebirth in] an evil destiny, may exhibit harsh speech in order to confute him.
“Next, Lord of Mysteries, the bodhisattva observes the precept of not
using speech that causes discord; he dissociates himself from divisive speech
and dissociates himself from hurtful speech. He who violates [this precept]
is not called a bodhisattva, who does not cause thoughts of dissension among 39c
beings. There is [also] a different expedient means: if those beings produce
attachment in accordance with their [wrong] viewpoints, he will utter divi-
sive speech according to their kind and [so] make them abide in the one path,
that is to say, the path to the knowledge of an omniscient one.
“Next, Lord of Mysteries, the bodhisattva keeps the precept of not engag-
ing in idle talk. With appropriate words and conforming to time and place,
he produces benefits, causes all beings to engender thoughts of joy, and

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The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

purifies the path of the organ of hearing. Why? Because the bodhisattva pos-
sesses a diverse vocabulary. Alternatively, another bodhisattva may put joc-
ularity to the fore, create pleasure for beings, and [so] make them dwell in
the Buddha’s Dharma. Although he utters much meaningless speech, such
a bodhisattva is not attached to transmigration through birth-and-death.
“Next, Lord of Mysteries, the bodhisattva should keep the precept of
non-covetousness. He does not give rise to defiled thoughts toward another’s
things of which he makes use. Why? Because there is no bodhisattva who
produces thoughts of attachment. If a bodhisattva’s mind has defiled thoughts,
he will become powerless at the gateway to omniscience and will fall to one
side. Again, Lord of Mysteries, the bodhisattva should engender joy and pro-
duce the thought, ‘It is most excellent that whatever I must do is made to be
done spontaneously,’ repeatedly feeling happy for himself, for he must not
cause beings to lose their property.
“Next, Lord of Mysteries, the bodhisattva should keep the precept of
non-anger. In all circumstances he always cultivates tolerance and is not
attached to anger or joy, and his mind operates equably toward foe and kin.
Why? A bodhisattva does not harbor ill-will. Why is that? Because the bodhi-
sattva is by his original nature pure. Therefore, Lord of Mysteries, the bodhi-
sattva should keep the precept of non-anger.
“Next, Lord of Mysteries, the bodhisattva should abandon wrong views.
He practices right views, fears the otherworld, and is without animosity, with-
out deceit, and without trickery; his mind is upright, and his mind has become
fixed upon the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. Therefore, Lord of Mysteries,
wrong views are deemed to be the very greatest of faults, they cut off all the
bodhisattva’s roots of goodness, and they are regarded as the mother of all
unwholesome dharmas. Hence, Lord of Mysteries, one should not give rise
to the causes and conditions of wrong views, even in jest.”
Then the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries said to the Buddha, “World-hon-
ored One, I beg you to explain the cutting off whereby the precepts of the
path of ten wholesome [actions] cut off the ultimate roots [of unwholesome
actions]. How does a bodhisattva, while acting freely in the position of a
king, dwelling in a palace, surrounded by his parents, wife, children, and
attendants, and experiencing heavenly pleasures, not commit any faults?”

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 Fascicle Six

When the vajradhara had finished speaking thus, the Buddha addressed
him, saying, “Excellent, excellent, Lord of Mysteries! You should listen
attentively and consider it carefully as I now explain the skill in determin- 40a
ing the Vinaya of bodhisattvas. Lord of Mysteries, know that there are two
kinds of bodhisattvas. What are [these] two? They are the householder and
the renunciant.
“Lord of Mysteries, the householder bodhisattva observes the five bases
of the precepts, acts freely in positions of power, conforms to time and place
with the path of various expedient means, acts freely to embrace [beings],
and seeks [the knowledge of] an omniscient one. That is to say, endowed
with expedient means, he displays various arts, such as those of dancers and
temple masters, and following these expedient means he embraces beings
with the four means of conversion, causing them all to seek after anuttarā
samyaksaṃbodhi. He keeps, namely, the precept of not taking life and [the
precepts against] taking what is not given, mendacious speech, sexual mis-
conduct, and wrong views. These are called the five bases of the precepts for
householders. The bodhisattva, observing the wholesome precepts as they
have been taught, should have clear faith [in them] and should be diligent in
his training. Following the bases of training of Tathāgatas of former times,
he abides in the conditioned precepts, is endowed with wisdom and expedi-
ent means, and attains the aggregate of the Tathāgata’s unsurpassed and aus-
picious unconditioned precepts.
“There are four kinds of fundamental sins that should not be commit-
ted even for the sake of saving one’s life. What are [these] four? They are
slandering the Dharma, abandoning the bodhi-mind, miserliness [with the
Dharma], and causing harm to beings. Why is that? They are by nature defiled
and do not represent the keeping of the bodhisattva precepts. Why?

The Perfectly Awakened Ones of the past, those of future ages,

And the honored among humans in the present, endowed with
wisdom and expedient means,
Cultivate unsurpassed awakening and obtain the siddhi of no outflows.
Also taught are other bases of training and knowledge divorced from
expedient means:116
You should know, Great Striving Hero, that these are for guiding
śrāvakas.”

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 Chapter XIX

The Exposition of the Arising

of the Hundred Letters117

Thereupon the World-honored One Vairocana surveyed the entire great assem-
bly and expounded the infallible teaching, the sovereign of mantras which
accomplishes everything in accordance with desires, the king of mantras,
the leader of mantras, the great potent one. Resting in the three samayas, and
in order to consummate the three dharmas,118 with a wondrous voice he
addressed Vajrapāṇi of great power, saying, “Striving Hero, with single-
mindedness listen attentively to the mantra-leader of mantras,” whereupon
he dwelled in the samādhi “Birth of Knowledge” and uttered a mantra which
produces various kinds of skillful knowledge and shines everywhere with
one hundred light rays: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, aṃ. [256 = 75]

The Buddha addressed Vajrapāṇi: “This is of all mantras

The mantra world-savior, which accomplishes great potency. 40b
It is the Perfectly Awakened One, sovereign over dharmas, and
the Muni;
It destroys the darkness of ignorance and appears everywhere like
the sun’s orb.
It is my own essence, empowered by the Great Muni,
And its responsive transformations perform miracles in order to
benefit beings
And cause everything to arise in accordance with one’s wishes,
All of which is able to produce the unsurpassed state of miracles.
Therefore one should in every way purify the body, dissociate
oneself from sullies,
Always strive in accordance with reason, and aspire to the Buddha’s
bodhi.”

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 Chapter XX

Intercorrespondence with the

Fruit of the Hundred Letters

Thereupon the World-honored One Vairocana addressed the vajradhara Lord

of Mysteries, saying, “Lord of Mysteries, if one enters the stage of initiation
into the great knowledge of the Great Awakened World-honored One, one
will see oneself dwelling in the state of the three samayas. Lord of Myster-
ies, when one enters initiation into the Bhagavān’s great knowledge, then
one will manifest buddha deeds in the form of dhāraṇīs. Then the Great
Awakened World-honored One dwells conformingly in front of all beings,
performing buddha deeds and expounding the state of the three samayas.”
The Buddha said, “Lord of Mysteries, observe the sphere of my circle
of speech, which is a gateway to purity that is vast and extends throughout
immeasurable world-systems, a gateway that in accordance with their own
nature expresses the Dharma realm as is appropriate [for different kinds of
beings], and causes all beings to all obtain joy. Again, it is like the present
World-honored One Śākyamuni, who pervades inexhaustible realms of empty
space and diligently performs buddha deeds in [many] lands. [Yet,] Lord of
Mysteries, sentient beings do not realize that from this attribute of the circle
of speech of the World-honored One there flow forth wondrous sounds of
the Perfectly Awakened One, like decorative strings of jewels, and that images
of the Buddha, born from the matrix [of the letter Aṃ], generate joy in accor-
dance with the inclinations of beings.
“Then the World-honored One, in the gateway to the sea of immeasur-
able world-systems, pervades the Dharma realm, earnestly encourages the
accomplishment of bodhi, and produces the bodhisattva Samantabhadra’s
vow of practice. In this world-system, its ground spread with wondrous flow-
ers and adorned with a matrix, in its sea of species, [the bodhisattva] receives
birth, purifies buddha fields with various gateways pure by nature, manifests

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

the place of bodhi, and abides in buddha deeds. Then, he seeks after the state
of samyaksaṃbodhi, and because he knows that the mind is immeasurable,
he knows that the body is immeasurable; because he knows that the body is
immeasurable, he knows that knowledge is immeasurable; because he knows
that knowledge is immeasurable, he knows that beings are immeasurable;
and because he knows that beings are immeasurable, he knows that the realm
40c of empty space is immeasurable. Lord of Mysteries, on account of the immea-
surableness of the mind, he obtains four kinds of immeasurableness. Hav-
ing obtained them, he accomplishes supreme perfect awakening, is endowed
with the ten powers of wisdom, vanquishes the four demons, and fearlessly
speaks with the roar of a lion.”
The Buddha [then] spoke this verse:

Striving Hero, all these states of the Unsurpassedly Awakened One119

Are the essence taught by the buddhas in the hundred-gated basis
of training.

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 Chapter XXI

The Accomplishment of the Station

of the Hundred Letters

Thereupon the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries, having gained the unprece-

dented, spoke these verses:

“The Buddha has explained the mantra world-savior (i.e., Aṃ),

which produces all mantras.
Mahāmuni (Great Muni), how does one know it?
Who can know it, and from where [does it arise]?
What produces these mantras?
What is it that produces them? Please explain!
Great Striving Hero, best of speakers,
I beg you to reveal all this!”
Thereupon the Bhagavān, sovereign over dharmas, the Muni,
Who is completely perfect and all-pervading, pervades all
world-systems,
And is an omniscient one—the Honored One Vairocana addressed
[the Lord of Mysteries,] saying,
“Excellent, Mahāsattva, Vajrapāṇi of great virtue!
I shall explain in its entirety the subtle secret, the supreme marvel,
The secret essentials of the buddhas which non-Buddhists
cannot know.
If someone who has obtained initiation into the Great Vehicle in the
maṇḍa[la] ‘Born of Compassion,’
Is adaptable and well behaved, and is always compassionate and
benefits others
Views bodhi as an objective entity, he will never be able to see it;
[But] if he is able to recognize this Great Self in his inner heart,

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

[He will find that] the place in which the [mantra] guide resides
conforms with the station of his own heart.
An eight-petaled lotus flower born of the mind, extremely beautiful,
In the middle of a perfectly full lunar disc, unsullied like a
clear mirror:
There the honored mantra world-savior always resides.
It is golden in color with blazing light, dwells in samādhi, counteracts
the poison [of mental defilements],
And is difficult to behold, like the sun—it is the same for all beings,
Forever empowering them all around, within and without.
With this eye of wisdom one realizes that the mind is [that] bright
mirror.
Because the mantrin sees this round mirror with the eye of wisdom,
41a He will see his own figure to be serene with the characteristics of a
Perfectly Awakened One.
[His] body produces the body-image [of a buddha], and [the mirror
of] the mind is produced by the mind,
And they always give rise to his own actions, pure and varied.
Then light rays emerge from him and completely illuminate [all
places] like flashes of lightning,
And the mantrin is able to perform all buddha deeds.
If his vision achieves purity, his hearing and so on will also be thus,
And he will be able to perform any deeds in accordance with what
he thinks in his mind.

“Next, Lord of Mysteries, bodhisattvas cultivating bodhisattva practices

via the gateway of mantras generate the [deity] image from their own body
in this manner: there is none so special as to surpass a saṃbuddha.120 Just as
the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, mind, and so on are an assemblage and
agglomeration of the four elements, so too is it thus empty of own-nature,
and there is only that which is grasped by name; it is just like empty space,
and there is nothing to be attached to, like a reflection. That Tathāgata accom-
plishes perfect awakening in uninterrupted mutual dependent arising. If some-
thing arises from conditions, then it arises like a reflection. Therefore, the
deity is oneself and oneself is the deity, and they generate each other. The
body[-image] produced by the body arises as the image of the deity.

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 Fascicle Six

“Lord of Mysteries, observe how this Dharma is dependent on the pen-

etrating wisdom [of realization] and the penetrating wisdom [of realization]
is dependent on the Dharma. They interact with each other, but are non-abid-
ing and by nature empty.
“Lord of Mysteries, how does there arise from the mind the image pro-
duced by the mind? Lord of Mysteries, it is, for instance, just as when some-
one applies the mind to either white or yellow or red, and a mind imbued
[with that color] arises. In the same way the body also operates. Lord of Mys-
teries, again it is like when one internally visualizes a maṇḍala in one’s mind
and treats [someone’s] fever [with it], whereupon that being’s fever will be
cured instantly, without any doubt. The maṇḍala is not different from the
mind, and the mind is not different from the maṇḍala. Why? Because [the
mind] has the selfsame characteristic as the maṇḍala. Lord of Mysteries,
again it is as if an illusionist illusorily created a man, and that man again cre-
ated an apparition. Lord of Mysteries, what do you think? Which of them
would be superior?”
Thereupon Vajrapāṇi said to the Buddha, “World-honored One, there
would be no difference between these two. Why? World-honored One, because
they have not actually arisen, and because these two men are by their orig-
inal nature empty, they are the same as illusions.”
“So it is, Lord of Mysteries. The mind producing things and that which
is produced by the mind are in this manner both empty, nondual, and not
separate.”

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 Chapter XXII

Recitation for the Accomplishment

of the Hundred Letters

Thereupon the World-honored One addressed the vajradhara Lord of Mys-

teries, saying, “Listen attentively, Lord of Mysteries! With respect to the 41b
mantra world-savior, there is not any difference between its body and the
body [of the practitioner]. The mind arises from the mind, and when it has
been well purified, light flows forth everywhere therefrom and arises corre-
spondingly throughout the limbs. The likes of [ordinary] foolish people never
know this, nor do they attain this path. Furthermore, because the reduplica-
tion [bodies] born of the body are of immeasurable kinds, in the same way
the reduplication [bodies] of the mantra world-savior are also said to be
immeasurable. It is, for example, like the auspicious cintāmaṇi, which brings
about benefits according to one’s desires. In this manner, there are no objec-
tives whatsoever that the body of the world’s world-illuminator (i.e., Aṃ)
does not accomplish.
“Lord of Mysteries, how do all activities unfold in the Dharma realm,
which is undifferentiated? Lord of Mysteries, again it is like the realm of
empty space, which is not a being, not a life-force, not a manuja (man), not
a mānava (human), not an agent, not a veda[ka] (perceiver/experiencer), not
a grasper, and not a grasped object, and is dissociated from all differentia-
tion and nondifferentiation, and yet all comings and goings and all actions
in the inexhaustible realms of beings do not give rise to doubts [regarding
their occurrence]. In this manner the knowledge of an omniscient one, which
is without differentiation, is commensurate with empty space and functions
internally and externally for all beings.”
Then the World-honored One also proclaimed phrases that purify inex-
haustible realms of beings, phrases that bring forth samādhi, phrases that are
inconceivable, and phrases that are gateways to transforming others.

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

If existents, though originally nonexistent, arise in conformity with

the world,
How does the understanding of emptiness arise in this yogin?
Their own-nature being thus, he realizes that names are
inapprehensible,
And [then] the spacelike mind, namely, the bodhi-mind, will arise.
He should generate compassion, conforming with all worlds,
And abide in the practice of thought-only—this is termed “buddhas.”
He should know that [even emptiness] is created by thought, and
observing this, he regards emptiness as empty.
Just as the method of counting numbers operates with [numbers]
being distinguished by increases of one,
So too, Striving Hero, is emptiness, increasing sequentially.121
These letters A and so on are, namely, empowered by spontaneous
knowledge.
A Va
Ka Kha Ga Gha Ca Cha Ja Jha
Ṭa Ṭha Ḍa Ḍha Ta Tha Da Dha
Pa Pha Ba Bha Ya Ra La Va
Śa Ṣa Sa Ha Ṅa Ña Ṇa Na Ma

“Lord of Mysteries, observe how, flowing forth from emptiness and pro-
visionally established, the paths of samādhi, empowered by the letter A, are
41c accomplished. Lord of Mysteries, in this manner the letter A abides as var-
ious adornments arranged in depicted positions. Because all dharmas are
originally unborn (ādyanutpāda), it reveals its own form. Alternatively,
because of the meaning of inapprehensibility,122 it manifests the form of the
letter Va. Alternatively, because dharmas are far removed from activity
(kārya), it manifests the form of the letter Ka. Alternatively, because all dhar-
mas are like empty space (kha), it manifests the form of the letter Kha. Alter-
natively, because going (gati) is inapprehensible, it manifests the form of
the letter Ga. Alternatively, because the characteristic of agglomeration
(ghana: “compact [mass]”) is inapprehensible in dharmas, it manifests the
form of the letter Gha. Alternatively, because all dharmas are dissociated
from birth and extinction (cyuti: “fall”), it manifests the form of the letter

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 Fascicle Six

Ca. Alternatively, because all dharmas have no shadow (chāyā), it manifests

the form of the letter Cha. Alternatively, because birth (jāti) is inapprehen-
sible in all dharmas, it manifests the form of the letter Ja. Alternatively,
because all dharmas are dissociated from enemies (jhamala?), it manifests
the form of the letter Jha. Alternatively, because all dharmas are dissociated
from pride (ṭaṅka), it manifests the form of the letter Ṭa. Alternatively, because
all dharmas are dissociated from nurture (viṭhapana: “[illusory] creation”),
it manifests the form of the letter Ṭha. Alternatively, because all dharmas
are dissociated from resentment (ḍamara: “riot, tumult”), it manifests the
form of the letter Ḍa. Alternatively, because all dharmas are dissociated from
calamities (?), it manifests the form of the letter Ḍha. Alternatively, because
all dharmas are dissociated from thusness (tathatā), it manifests the form of
the letter Ta. Alternatively, because all dharmas are dissociated from a dwelling
place (sthāna), it manifests the form of the letter Tha. Alternatively, because
all dharmas are dissociated from giving (dāna), it manifests the form of the
letter Da. Alternatively, because elements (dhātu) are inapprehensible in all
dharmas, it manifests the form of the letter Dha. Alternatively, because
supreme truth (paramārtha) is inapprehensible in all dharmas, it manifests
the form of the letter Pa. Alternatively, because all dharmas are unsolid and
like foam (phena), it manifests the form of the letter Pha. Alternatively,
because all dharmas are dissociated from bondage (bandha), it manifests the
form of the letter Ba. Alternatively, because visualization (bhāvanā) is inap-
prehensible in all dharmas, it manifests the form of the letter Bha. Alterna-
tively, because vehicles (yāna) are inapprehensible in all dharmas, it mani-
fests the form of the letter Ya. Alternatively, because all dharmas are
dissociated from all dust (rajas), it manifests the form of the letter Ra. Alter-
natively, because all dharmas have no characteristic (lakṣaṇa), it manifests
the form of the letter La. Alternatively, because all dharmas are dissociated
from quiescence (śānti), it manifests the form of the letter Śa. Alternatively,
because all dharmas are by their original nature dull (ṣaṭha, for śaṭha: “fool,
blockhead”), it manifests the form of the letter Ṣa. Alternatively, because
truth (satya) is inapprehensible in all dharmas, it manifests the form of the
letter Sa. Alternatively, because all dharmas are dissociated from cause (hetu),
it manifests the form of the letter Ha.

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“Lord of Mysteries, enter in sequence each single one of these samādhi

gateways. Lord of Mysteries, if you observe them, then the thirty-two attrib-
utes of a great person will all arise from them. Ṅa, Ña, Ṇa, Na, and Ma oper-
ate freely in all dharmas. These appear in sequence and accomplish the
[eighty] minor marks of a samyaksaṃbuddha.”

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 Chapter XXIII

The Mantra Method for the

Hundred Letters

“Next, Lord of Mysteries, in this samādhi gateway one will, empowered by

emptiness, become sovereign over all dharmas and accomplish supreme per- 42a
fect awakening. Therefore, this letter [A] is regarded as the deity.”
[The World-honored One] then spoke these verses:

Lord of Mysteries, you should know that the letter A is the

primary state,
Its bright dharma all-pervading and surrounded by a circle of letters.
This deity has no [differentiating] characteristics and is far removed
from seeing [subjects] and [seen] characteristics;
Yet although without characteristics, holy deities manifest
characteristics and come forth from its midst.
Sounds emerge from the letter [A], the letter produces mantras,
And mantras effect results—so have the honored world-saviors
taught.
You should know that the nature of sound is empty and that it has
been created by emptiness.
[But] all kinds of beings are wrongly attached [to external objects]
in accordance with words [expressed by sound].
Neither empty nor sound, it is taught for the practitioner,
And if he enters into liberation by means of sound, he will then
realize samādhi.
Intercorrespondence with the allocation [of the letters] according to
the rules is illuminated by the letters,
And hence there are the conceptual [distinctions] of immeasurable
mantras of the likes of the letter A and so on.

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 Chapter XXIV

The Exposition of the

Nature of Bodhi

For example, just as it is the characteristic of empty space in the ten

directions
to always pervade everywhere without a support,
So too is the mantra world-savior
without a support in any dharmas.
Again, just as material forms in space,
though visible, are without a basis,
So too is the mantra world-savior
not the basis of those dharmas.
The measure of empty space established on a mundane level
is far removed from past, future, and present ages;
If one sees the mantra world-savior,
it too transcends the dharmas of the three ages.
Abiding only in verbal expression and far removed from
agent and so on,
The provisional terms for empty space have been proclaimed by the
Guiding Teacher [only in accordance with conventional usage].
Names are without support, just like empty space;
The mantra sovereign is also thus: though it manifests, it is dissociated
from speech.
It is neither fire, water, wind, nor earth, nor sunlight,
Neither the moon or any other planets, nor day, nor night;
It is neither birth, nor old age and sickness, nor death, nor injury,
Neither divisions of time such as a kṣaṇa (instant), nor a year
and so on;
Nor is there becoming and destruction, its number of eons cannot 42b
be apprehended,

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The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

It does not lead to birth in the pure or the defiled, nor do results arise.
Given that various mundane distinctions such as these do not exist,
One should always cultivate it diligently and seek the state
of an omniscient one.

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 Chapter XXV

The Three Samayas

Thereupon the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries said to the Buddha, “As for the
three samayas mentioned [earlier] by the World-honored One, why are they
described as the three samayas?”
When the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries had finished speaking thus, the
World-honored One addressed him, saying, “It is excellent, excellent, Lord
of Mysteries, that you have asked me about this matter. Lord of Mysteries,
you should listen attentively and consider it carefully as I now explain.”
Vajrapāṇi said, “So be it, World-honored One. I am eager to listen.”
The Buddha said, “There are three kinds of dharmas that, arising as a
continuum and in conjunction with the removal of obstacles, are called the
three samayas. How do these dharmas arise as a continuum? Namely, [at the
time of] the initial aspiration one does not see one’s own nature. From this,
wisdom is generated and knowledge concordant with reality arises, free from
the web of inexhaustible differentiation. This is called the second mind, with
the characteristic of bodhi, without differentiation, and representing the state
of perfect and full awakening. Lord of Mysteries, having seen things as they
really are, one surveys the inexhaustible realms of beings, compassion oper-
ates freely, and as one views them without objectification there arises the
bodhi-mind [with the thought], ‘I will establish beings so that they are free
from all frivolous arguments and will cause them all to dwell in character-
isticless bodhi.’ These are called the states of the three samayas.

Next, Lord of Mysteries, there are [another] three samayas:

The first is the mind of the Perfectly Awakened One (Buddha),
the second is called the Dharma,
And the arising of that mind as a continuum is called the harmonious
Sangha.

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

These three samayas have been taught by the buddhas and

Guiding Teachers.
If one dwells in these three equalities123 and cultivates practices
for bodhi,
Then, starting with the gateways of guidance, and in order to
benefit beings,
One will achieve bodhi, and the three bodies will operate freely.

“Lord of Mysteries, the samyaksaṃbuddha, in order to establish the

teachings, empowers himself as a single body, namely, the first transforma-
tion body. Next, Lord of Mysteries, in [this] single body he displays three
kinds [of aspects], namely, the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. Next,
Lord of Mysteries, on the basis of this he establishes and expounds three
kinds of vehicles, widely performs buddha deeds, manifests parinirvāṇa,
and maturates beings.
“Lord of Mysteries, see how those bodhisattvas cultivating practices for
bodhi via the gateway of mantras, if they comprehend the three equalities
42c and perform [rites of] accomplishment with the rules for mantras, are not
attached to any false grasping and cannot be hindered, except those who do
not desire [to practice], are lazy, engage in profitless talk, do not engender
faith, and accumulate property. Furthermore, one should not do two [other]
things, namely, drink liquor and sleep on a bed.”

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 Chapter XXVI

The Exposition of “Tathāgata”

Thereupon the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries said to the World-honored One:

What is a Tathāgata? What is an honored one among humans?

What is called a bodhisattva? What is a Perfectly Awakened One?
O Guiding Teacher and Great Muni, I beg you to sever my doubts!
Bodhisattvas of great renown, having abandoned their doubting
thoughts,
Will cultivate the Mahayana, the king of practices unsurpassed.

Then the Bhagavān Vairocana surveyed the entire great assembly and
addressed the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries, saying, “It is excellent, excel-
lent, Vajrapāṇi, that you have asked me about this matter. Lord of Myster-
ies, you should listen attentively and consider it carefully as I now explain
the path of the Mahayana.”
[Then he spoke in] verse:

Bodhi has the characteristic of empty space and is free from all
differentiation;
One who wishes to seek that bodhi is called a bodhisattva.
One who has accomplished the ten stages, has fully mastered
[tenfold] freedom,
[Realizes that] dharmas are empty and illusionlike, knows that these
dharmas are all the same,
And understands mundane destinies is on that account called a
Perfectly Awakened One.
[One who realizes that] dharmas have a characteristic akin to empty
space and are nondual and of only one characteristic
And has accomplished the ten powers of wisdom of a buddha is on
that account termed a saṃbuddha.124

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The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

One who has destroyed ignorance with only wisdom and [possesses]
self-realized wisdom,
Whose own-nature is dissociated from speech, is on that account
called a Tathāgata.

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 Chapter XXVII

The Mundane and Supramundane

Homa Rituals

“Next, Lord of Mysteries, once in former times when I was a bodhisattva

practicing bodhisattva practices and residing in the world of Brahmā (Brahma-
loka), Brahmā came and questioned me, saying, ‘Great Brahmā, we would
like to know how many kinds of fire there are.’ I replied as follows:

‘Mahābrahmā is called Self-conceited (Abhimānin), the spontaneous

one (svayaṃbhū).
Next, Mahābrahmā’s son was called Pāvaka, 43a
The beginning of mundane fire; his son was called Brahmodana.
His son was called Pitara,125 [whose son was] Vaiśvānara;
He further begat Havana, Havyavāhana,
Pārśvasaṃvīta, and Atharvaṇa.
His sons were Prathita and Puṣkaroda.126
These fire gods were born from each other in succession.
Next, at the time of conception use the fire Māruta;
Later, when wishing to bathe yourself, [use] the fire Vahamāna.127
For use when bathing your [pregnant] wife, use the fire Maṅgala;
After the birth of the child use the fire Pragalbha.
For first naming the child use the fire Pārthiva;
You should know that the fire Śuci is to be used at the time of the
[first] feeding.
When making a topknot for the child, you should use the fire Śadbhi,128
And next, when he receives the prohibitory precepts, the fire
Samudbhava.
When [the term of] the prohibitory [precepts] comes to an end and a
cow is presented [to the teacher], use the fire Sūrya;
When the boy marries, use the fire Yojaka.

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

For performing various deeds there is the fire [U]panāyika;

For worshiping heavenly divinities use the fire Pāvaka;
For house-building use the fire Brahmā, and for giving donations
the fire Śānta;
For use when tying up the [sacrificial] sheep, the fire Avahani[ka];129
For use when having touched something polluted, use the fire
Viveci;130
For use when [offering] cooked food, use the fire Sāhasa;
When worshiping the sun god, use the fire Haviṣya;
When worshiping the moon god, use the fire called Nidhi;
For use with full[-ladle] oblations there is the fire Amṛta;
At times of [rites for] quelling calamities (śāntika) use the fire
Dāruṇa;
When performing rites for increasing benefits (pauṣṭika), [use] the
fire Kṛtānta;
When vanquishing foes, you should use the fire Wrathful;
43b For attracting property, use the fire Kāmada;
If burning forests, you should use the fire Messenger;
For digesting what has been eaten, use the fire Jaṭhara;
When consigning [a corpse] to a fire, [use] the fire called Bhakṣa;
In the sea there is a fire called Vaḍabāmukha;
And the fire at the time of the final conflagration [at the end] of an
eon is called Yugānta.
For you, good sirs, I have explained in brief the fires
That have been handed down as the practices of brahmans and read
by those who practice the Vedas.’
At that time I pronounced these forty-four kinds [of fires].131
Next, Lord of Mysteries, in former times
I performed homa deeds without knowing the nature of the various
fires;
This was not [true] homa practice, and I was unable to achieve any
results from my actions.
When I further attained bodhi, I expounded twelve fires.
The Fire of Wisdom is the first, called Mahendra:
Dignified and pure gold in appearance, he increases benefits,
bestows awesome power,

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 Fascicle Six

Is wreathed in flames, and dwells in samādhi—you should know that

this represents the consummation of knowledge.
The second is called Fullness of Action: shining everywhere like the
corona of the autumn moon,
He is [seated] inside an auspicious round circle, [holding] a rosary
and [wearing] clean white robes.
The third is Māruta, black in color with a wind-parched figure.
The fourth is Rohita, his color like the radiance of the morning sun.
The fifth is Mṛḍa, who is heavily moustached, pale yellow in color,
Long-necked, very splendrous, and compassionate toward all.
The sixth is called Wrathful, squint-eyed and the color of smoke:
His hair stands on end, and he has a deafening roar, is very strong,
and displays four fangs.
The seventh is Jaṭhara, who is swift and endowed with many colors.
The eighth is Kṣaya, just like a mass of flashes of lightning.
The ninth is called Mind-born, who is very powerful and has a body
of many forms.
The tenth is Kravy[āda], who is red-black and marked with the
letter Oṃ.
The eleventh fire god <his name is missing in the Sanskrit text>.132
The twelfth is Mohana, by whom beings are deluded. 43c
Lord of Mysteries, these are empowered by the form of fire (i.e.,
Agni),
And with one’s own shape and color conforming with theirs and the
drugs and other materials the same too,
One performs external homa, accomplishing siddhi at will.
Next, in one’s inner heart that which is of one nature but tripartite,
Three places united to form one, represents the internal homa of the
yogin.133
[When one performs it with] thoughts of great kindness and great
pity, it is called the rite for quelling calamities;
Endowed also with joy, it becomes the rite for increasing benefits;
And with wrath [arising] from the matrix [of compassion] one
performs various [wrathful] deeds.
Furthermore, Lord of Mysteries, in accordance with those places
(i.e., hearths) that have been explained,

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

And following the appropriate deeds and following faith-and-under-

standing, one makes burnt offerings.”134
Then Vajrapāṇi said to the Buddha, “World-honored One,
What is the meditation for the fire hearth? How does one employ
sprinkling
And spread the auspicious grass properly? How does one set out all
the materials?”
The Buddha addressed the Lord of Mysteries, the vajradhara, saying,
“The hearth for the fire should be a cubit’s measure, its four sides
equal to each other,
Its rim made four phalanges [high and wide], and surrounded by
vajra seals.
One spreads this with fresh rushes, going around the hearth toward
the right (i.e., clockwise)
And not placing the tips over the bases: the bases should be placed
over the tips.
Next, one takes some auspicious grass and sprinkles [water] to the
right according to the rules.
Unguent, flowers, and lamps are then offered to the fire god.
The practitioner, with a single flower, makes an offering to Mṛḍa,
And when [the deity] has been installed in his seat, he should again
employ sprinkling
And should make full[-ladle] offerings, reciting [the deity’s] own
mantra.
Next [he performs] the homa for quelling calamities, or else uses the
rite for increasing benefits.
Mundane homa such as this is called an external deed.
44a Next, internal homa extinguishes karma and [re]birth.
Understanding one’s own manas (mind), one dissociates oneself
from form, sound, and so on.
The eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and body, as well as verbal and mental
action,
All arise entirely from the mind and depend upon the mind-king.
The eyes and so on, born of differentiation, as well as the objective
realms of form and so on,

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 Fascicle Six

Obstacles to wisdom unborn, the Wind-parched Fire is able to

extinguish.
It burns away false differentiation and accomplishes the pure
bodhi-mind.
This is called internal homa, and it has been taught for bodhisattvas.”

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 Chapter XXVIII

The Exposition of Deity Samādhi

Thereupon the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries said to the Buddha, “World-

honored One, I beg you to explain the actual manifestation of the physical
forms and awesome efficacy of the deities so as to make bodhisattvas culti-
vating bodhisattva practices via the gateway of mantras visualize their deity’s
form in such a way that their deity’s body is identified with their own body
and they will without any doubt obtain siddhi.”
When the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries had finished speaking thus, the
Buddha addressed him, saying, “Excellent, excellent, Lord of Mysteries! It
is excellent that you have asked me about this matter. Now then, listen atten-
tively and apply your mind very carefully as I now explain.”
Vajrapāṇi said, “So be it, World-honored One. I am eager to listen.”
The Buddha said, “Lord of Mysteries, the deities have three kinds of
bodies, namely, syllable (akṣara), seal (mudrā), and physical form (rūpa).
The syllables are of two kinds, namely, sound and bodhi-mind. The seals are
[also] of two kinds, namely, with form and without form. The deity’s body
is also of two kinds, namely, pure and impure. The pure body, of realization,
is dissociated from all characteristics, while the impure conceptualized body
has a manifest form and various colors.135 The two kinds of deity-forms
accomplish two kinds of deeds: on account of the conceptualized [body] one
accomplishes siddhi with characteristics, and on account of the unconcep-
tualized [body] there accordingly arises siddhi without characteristics.”
He then spoke these verses:

The Buddha has taught that on account of the conceptualized one

will desire to accomplish [siddhi] with characteristics,
And by abiding in the unconceptualized one will obtain siddhi
without characteristics.
Therefore, one should in every way abide in the non-conceptualized.

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 Chapter XXIX

The Exposition of Samādhi

without Characteristics

Next, the Bhagavān Vairocana addressed the vajradhara Lord of Mysteries,

saying, “Lord of Mysteries, those bodhisattvas cultivating bodhisattva prac-
tices via the gateway of mantras who wish to accomplish samādhi without
characteristics should think as follows: ‘From where do concepts arise? Is it 44b
from my body or from my mind?’ Were they to arise from the body, the body
is like grass, trees, and pebbles; its own-nature is such that it is dissociated
from activity, incognizant, and born of cause and action, and it should be
viewed as being the same as external things. Again, it is like a constructed
image, which can be damaged by neither fire nor water nor sword nor poi-
son nor vajra and so on, and which, should one become angry with it and
speak harshly to it, can[not] be moved in the slightest. Even if gods and
worldlings serve it and provide it with food and drink, garments, unguents,
and garlands of flowers, or with various special articles of enjoyment such
as the likes of unguents, sandalwood, and camphor, it will not engender joy.
Why? The ordinary person, foolish and childlike, gives rise to differentiat-
ing thoughts, born of his own self, perverse, and unreal, with regard to that
image which is by its own-nature empty, and he either worships it or does
harm to it. Lord of Mysteries, in this manner should one dwell, cultivating
mindfulness of the body and observing how it is by nature empty.
“Next, Lord of Mysteries, because the mind has no own-nature and is
dissociated from all concepts, one should consider it to be by nature empty.
Lord of Mysteries, seek though one may, the mind cannot be apprehended
in the three ages, for it transcends the three ages. In this manner its own-
nature is far removed from characteristics. Lord of Mysteries, that there are
mental concepts is the product of differentiation on the part of ordinary peo-
ple, foolish and childlike. Because they do not understand, they have false

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The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

misconceptions such as these, which should thus be considered unreal and

unborn.
“Lord of Mysteries, these bodhisattvas cultivating bodhisattva practices
via the gateway of mantras will realize the samādhi without characteristics,
and because they dwell in the samādhi without characteristics, the true speech
(i.e., mantra [deities]) uttered by the Tathāgata will personally face them and
always appear in their presence.”

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 Chapter XXX

Mundane and Supramundane

Recitation

“Next, Lord of Mysteries, I shall now explain the secret method for reciting
mantras.

For each of the mantras perform mental recitation

And, second, with the outgoing and incoming breath: these are
always the foremost of yogas.
If one recites differently from this, the mantra will be deficient
in its members.
In internal and external yoga I have taught that there are four kinds.136
In the case of mundane recitation, there is a continuum of objects
[of cognition],
And one dwells in seed-syllables and phrases, or else the mind
attends on one’s own deity.
Therefore, it is said to have an object of cognition, and [recitation
with] the outgoing and incoming breath is regarded as the best
[of mundane recitation].
One should know that the supramundane mind is far removed from
syllables;
One’s self and the deity become one and nondual, without grasping
or attachment,
And one does not sunder the mind and the physical image—do not 44c
act contrary to the rules!
The three lakṣas137 that I have explained and the many ways of
reciting mantras
Lead to the removal of sins, and the mantrin is purified.
Do not act contrary to this teaching regarding the number of
recitations!”

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 Chapter XXXI

The Entrustment

Thereupon the World-honored One addressed the entire assembly, saying,

“You must now not be negligent with regard to this gateway to the Dharma.
If you do not know their basic nature, you should not confer it on other peo-
ple apart from my disciples who possess the [right] attributes. I shall now
explain them, and so you should listen singlemindedly.
“If they were born at the time of an auspicious planet or lunar mansion,
seek after excellent things, have subtle wisdom, are always mindful of their
debts of gratitude, produce thoughts of earnest longing [for the Dharma], and
dwell in joy on hearing the Dharma, their complexions are bluish white or
white in color, they have broad heads and long necks, their foreheads are broad
and flat, their noses straight and their faces full, and they are dignified and
well-proportioned—such a son of the Buddha you should diligently instruct.”
Thereupon all those endowed with awesome virtue all felt blessed hap-
piness, and upon hearing this, they received it with deference and took it up
singlemindedly. The entire assembly, having made vast offerings with var-
ious adornments, bowed down at the feet of the Buddha, and they reverently
clasped their palms together and spoke these words: “We but beg you to pro-
claim the world-saving phrases of empowerment for this Dharma teaching
so that the path of Dharma vision may pervade everywhere and long remain
in the world.”
Then the World-honored One uttered the mantra of the phrases of empow-
erment for this gateway to the Dharma: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, sarvathā
śiṃ śiṃ triṃ triṃ guṃ guṃ dhariṃ dhariṃ sthāpaya sthāpaya buddhasatya
vā dharmasatya vā saṅghasatya vā hūṃ hūṃ vedavide svāhā. (Homage to
all Buddhas! In every way, śiṃ śiṃ triṃ triṃ guṃ guṃ dhariṃ dhariṃ! cause
to perdure, cause to perdure! either the truth of the Buddha or the truth of
the Dharma or the truth of the Sangha! hūṃ hūṃ! O you who are conversant
with [sacred] knowledge! svāhā!)138 [257]

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The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

Then, when the Buddha had finished expounding this scripture, all the
vajradharas and the bodhisattvas headed by Samantabhadra and so on, hear-
ing what the Buddha had said, were all overjoyed and believed, accepted,
upheld, and practiced it.

[End of] Fascicle Six of the Scripture of the

Enlightenment, Supernatural Transformations,
and Empowerment of Mahāvairocana

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 Fascicle Seven 45a

Chapter I

The Code of Training for

Mantra Practice among the
Procedural Rules for Worship139

I bow down to the Buddha Vairocana,

his pure eyes wide open like a blue lotus.
On the basis of the Mahāvairocana Sutra King I shall
explain the ritual rules helpful for worship.
In order to accomplish the procedural mantra method
so that one may attain swift accomplishment in accordance with it,
And in order to render one’s own mind free from sully,
I shall now proclaim them in summary.
First, the expedient means of the unsurpassed vow of knowledge
for the accomplishment of benefits for self and others:
Although the expedient means for accomplishing it are immeasurable,
the generation of siddhi is dependent on faith-and-understanding.
All the Tathāgatas and sons born of the Jina
who have fulfilled the excellent vows of siddhi,
The mantric forms of their buddha-bodies,
the various seals and modes of conduct in which they dwell,
The special path whereby mantras are practiced,
and the Broad (Vaipulya) Vehicle—have clear faith in all these.
In the faith-and-understanding of sentient beings there are higher,
middling, and lower,
and the World-honored One has taught the methods for realizing
and cultivating them;

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

Taking pity on beings in the six destinies of transmigration,

he expounds them in order to bring benefit in conformity with them.
You should pay reverence with a resolute mind
and arouse thoughts of diligent sincerity and deep faith.
Someone who in the supreme Broad Vehicle
knows the wondrous mantra practices of self-discipline (i.e.,
vinaya),
Follows the unsurpassed separate regulations (i.e., prātimokṣa) for
reciting vidyās
practiced by the sons of the Sugata,
Understands the items of the full [ritual] appurtenances, and has
received certification for transmitting the teachings and so on—
If you see a teacher like this, reverently make obeisance to him,
and in order to benefit others abide in singlemindedness.
Look up to him as if he were a guide for the world
or as a good friend or kinsman;
Engender a special mind of diligence,
worship him, serve him, and follow his actions.
Obedient to the teacher’s wishes, make him rejoice,
and when facing him, embraced by his compassion,
Ask him with head bowed for the excellent practices of the Sugata:
“I beg you, O Venerable One, to instruct me as you see fit.”
The teacher will freely construct
a wondrous circular altar (i.e., maṇḍala) of the “Matrix of Great
Compassion” and so on,
He will induct [the disciples] into the maṇḍala in accordance with
the rules,
and he will bestow the samaya according to their capacity.
45b The ritual site, book of teachings, mantras, and seals
are orally transmitted by the venerable teacher in person;
[The disciple] acquires the excellent samaya and protection,
and he should practice as taught.
Moreover, what is taught in this scripture encompasses the right
practice of the equality (samaya) of mantras;
Out of pity for disciples of inferior intelligence,
the gradual rites are differentiated.

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Gods among the victory-creating gods,

sons born from the mind of the Perfectly Awakened One,
And mundane gods below with their seals of body and speech
enter this supreme vehicle of mantras.
Those who act as models, providing guidance in mystic practices,
should all be revered and not slighted;
Because they are able to bring benefit to all worlds,
you must not engender thoughts of forsaking them.
You should always focus uninterruptedly
on their vast virtues,
And in accordance with what suits your capacity
you should serve and worship them all.
The multitudes of the Buddha’s śrāvakas, pratyekabuddhas,
the exposition of their teachings about the path of extinguishing
suffering,
Teachers who bestow the code of training, and fellow celibates—
toward none of these should you entertain thoughts of contempt.
Carefully observing what should be done at the appropriate time,
attend on them with respect.140
Do not engage in dharmas of foolish and childlike mental conduct,
nor do you bear grudges against deities.
As is taught in the scriptures of the world’s Guide,
nothing does more than anger to harm great benefit;
The causes and conditions of a single moment of thought will
completely burn away
the good cultivated during koṭis of vast eons.
Therefore, you should always earnestly reject
this root of profitlessness.
The wish-fulfilling jewel of the pure bodhi-mind
fulfills mundane and supramundane excellent wishes;
The removal of doubts ultimately ends in the acquisition of samādhi,
and self-benefit and benefiting others are born of this.
Therefore, you should guard it twice as dearly as your own life,
observing how you possess a treasury of vast merit.
Should your body, speech, or mind disturb [other] beings,
even to the slightest degree, you should eschew all [such behavior],

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Unless many can be helped by other expedient means,

in which case you dwell inwardly in thoughts of compassion
while [outwardly] manifesting anger.
Toward the likes of sentient beings who turn their backs on debts of
gratitude
always espouse forbearance, disregarding their faults.
Furthermore, be always possessed of the immeasurable thoughts
of great kindness and pity, as well as joy and equanimity.
Gifts of the Dharma and of food made to the best of your ability
convert living beings through the beneficent practice of compassion,
Or else, with your mind attuned to the great boon,
remain indifferent, waiting for the [right] time.
Should you not have the strength to bring extensive benefit [to others],
45c simply observe the bodhi-mind, abiding by the rules;
The Buddha has taught that it is endowed with the myriad practices
and satisfies the white and pure dharmas.
By means of giving and the other [four] gateways to deliverance141
embrace sentient beings into the Great Vehicle,
Making them dwell therein, uphold it, recite [its scriptures], and so on,
as well as thinking on it and practicing it correctly.
The wise person restrains the six sense organs
and, his mind calmed, he should always cultivate mental equipoise.
Destructive to [all] deeds is liquor,
the root of all unwholesome dharmas;
It is like poison, fire, sword, frost, hail, and so on,
and therefore you should keep your distance and not go near it.
Furthermore, since the Buddha has taught that it increases self-conceit,
you should not sit or lie on fine raised beds.
In short, he who possesses wisdom
renounces all things that harm himself or harm others.
Basing myself on the right samaya path,
I have now in due order proclaimed it in brief,
Elucidating the sutras taught by the Buddha
in order to broaden understanding and produce resolve.

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Dwelling properly on this basis in the precepts of equality (samaya),

you should moreover dissociate yourself from the causes of
transgression,
That is to say, habituation to evil thoughts, laziness, delusion,142 fear,
[idle] talk, and so on.
He whose mind has awoken to the wondrous gateway of mantras,
thus dwelling properly in the samaya,
Should cause obstacles to be gradually extinguished
so that his merits may increase.
Desirous of entering siddhi in this lifetime,
he thinks about it as is appropriate
And receives in person the vidyā methods from a venerable [teacher],
observing what is appropriate for performing [rites of]
accomplishment.
He should himself dwell in the mantra practices
in accordance with the procedural rules for vidyās that have been
explained.
First, he makes obeisance to a venerable [teacher qualified to]
initiate him and transmit the teachings,
requesting the [ritual] deeds to be practiced with mantras.
Having received permission from the teacher, the wise person
should base himself in a place of suitable topography:
A fine mountain, a secondary peak, a ravine,
various grottoes, between two mountains,
Wherever tranquility can be had at all times,
a pond completely adorned with lotuses and blue lotuses,
Large rivers, flowing streams, sandbars, and riverbanks,
far removed from the tumult and clamor of people;
Where there are trees pleasing to the mind with luxuriant foliage
and an abundance of lactaceous trees and auspicious grasses,
Where there are no mosquitoes or gadflies, no suffering from cold
or heat,
and no molestation by wicked beasts or poisonous insects,
Or where the Tathāgata and his saintly disciples
once in former times roamed and dwelled,

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

And temples, stupas, araṇyas, and chambers of seers of yore—

he should base himself in a place in which his heart and mind
rejoice.
He renounces the [life of a] householder, cutting off social obligations,
and strives to avoid the hindrances and entanglements caused by
the five desires;
Intently and profoundly rejoicing in the taste of the Dharma,
he nurtures his mind to seek siddhi.
Furthermore, he is always endowed with the wisdom of perseverance
46a and is able to allay the fatigue and pain of hunger and thirst.
He has a good companion leading a pure life or, if he has no
companion,
is always together with sutra scrolls of the wondrous Dharma.
Someone who follows the practices of buddhas and bodhisattvas,
has firm faith-and-understanding in the right Mantra [Vehicle],
Possesses the strength of pure wisdom, is very persevering and
energetic, does not seek the mundane,
Always desires to be resolute, is not timid,
achieves success for self and others in this lifetime,
Does not follow other gods, and is a fearless support—
anyone endowed with these [qualities] is called a good associate.

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 Chapter II

The Increasing and Guarding

of Pure Conduct

When you have finished preparing the site of accomplishment,

each day dwell first in the wisdom of mindfulness.
Lie down to rest according to the rules,143 and when you get up for
the first time,
dispel inexhaustible obstructors.
During this night sins born of heedlessness
are carefully purified, and you repent of them all.
Your sense organs calmed, endowed with compassion, and with
beneficent thoughts
vow to deliver inexhaustible realms of beings.
Bathe according to the rules or, if you do not bathe,
you should make pure your body, speech, and mind.
Next, in a chamber for retreat or in an empty and quiet spot scatter
fine flowers as adornment
And arrange the images and excellent texts,
or else call to mind the buddhas in the ten directions
And visualize them quite clearly in your mind’s eye.
Based on the direction in which your deity resides,
You should with utmost sincerity reverently dwell in singlemindedness
and, prostrating yourself on the ground, make obeisance:
“I take refuge in the Perfectly Awakened Ones in the ten directions,
all endowed throughout the three ages with the three bodies;
I take refuge in the entire Dharma of the Great Vehicle;
I take refuge in the nonregressing multitude [possessing] the
bodhi[-mind];
I take refuge in spells (vidyās) and in true speech (mantras);
I take refuge in all mystic seals;

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

And with the pure actions of body, speech, and mind

I make obeisance most earnestly with immeasurable reverence.”

The mantra of the expedient means for making obeisance is: Oṃ namaḥ
sarvatathāgatakāyavākcittapādavandanāṃ karomi. (Oṃ, homage! I make
obeisance to the feet of the body, speech, and mind of all Tathāgatas.) [258]

With this mantra for making obeisance,

one is able to make obeisance to all the buddhas of the
ten directions.
[Then] placing your right knee on the ground and clasping your
hands together,
contemplate, confess, and repent your previous sinful actions:
“On account of the accumulations of ignorance
I have committed many sins in the actions of body, speech,
and mind;
Because greed, anger, and stupidity obscured my mind,
before buddhas, the Right Dharma, the Sangha of the Wise and
Holy,
My parents, my two teachers, good friends,
and immeasurable beings
I have in the course of transmigration through beginningless
birth-and-death
committed most grievous and inexhaustible sins,
46b And in the presence of the buddhas of the present age in the ten
directions
I [now] repent of them all, never to commit them again.”

The mantra of the expedient means for expiating sins is: Oṃ sarva-
pāpasphoṭadahanavajrāya svāhā. (Oṃ, for you who like a vajra burst asun-
der and burn all sins, svāhā!) [259]

“Homage to the buddhas of the ten directions and three ages with
their three kinds of eternal bodies, to the treasury of the Right
Dharma,
And to the multitude [possessing] the excellent great mind of bodhi—
I now duly take refuge in them all.”

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The mantra of the expedient means for taking refuge is: Oṃ sarva-
buddhabodhisattvān śaraṇaṃ gacchāmi vajradharma hrīḥ. (Oṃ, I take refuge
in all buddhas and bodhisattvas. Adamantine Dharma, hrīḥ!) [260]

“This body, free from sullies, which I have purified,

together with bodies, speech, and minds of the three ages,
More numerous than an ocean of dust motes of [countless buddha]
fields,
I offer up to all Tathāgatas.”

The mantra of the expedient means for offering one’s body is: Oṃ sarva-
tathāgatapūjāpravartanāyātmānaṃ niryātayāmi sarvatathāgatāś cādhiti-
ṣṭhantā[ṃ] sarvatathāgatajñānaṃ me āviśatu. (Oṃ, I offer myself for the
incitement of worship of all Tathāgatas. May all Tathāgatas empower [me],
and may the knowledge of all Tathāgatas enter upon me!) [261]

“The excellent jewel of the pure bodhi-mind

I now generate to save living beings
Entangled in the aggregations of the sufferings of birth and so on,
and their bodies hurt by ignorance;
Their savior, refuge, and liberator,
may I always bring benefit to sentient beings.”

The mantra of the expedient means for generating the bodhi-mind is:
Oṃ bodhicittam utpādayāmi. (Oṃ, I generate the mind of awakening.) [262]
There are some additional phrases, which say: “The bodhi-mind is dis-
sociated from all things; that is to say, the [five] aggregates, [eighteen] ele-
ments, [twelve] sense fields, grasper, and grasped having been abandoned,
dharmas are without self and one’s own mind is equal [with them] and orig-
inally unborn, its own-nature like great emptiness. Just as the World-hon-
ored Buddhas and bodhisattvas generated the bodhi-mind up to the site of
bodhi, so too do I thus generate the bodhi-mind.” <These additional phrases
are like a mantra, and one should recite the Sanskrit text.>144

“In the power of the various skilled expedient means

of the oceanlike multitudes of Perfectly All-knowing Ones
Throughout immeasurable world-systems in the ten directions,
and in all the meritorious actions cultivated

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

46c By the Buddha’s sons for living beings

I now completely rejoice.”

The mantra of the expedient means of sympathetic joy is: Oṃ sarva-

tathāgatapuṇyajñānānumodanāpūjāmeghasamudraspharaṇasamaye hūṃ.
(Oṃ, O pledge of the diffusion of oceanlike clouds of worship consisting of
sympathetic joy in the merit and knowledge of all Tathāgatas, hūṃ!) [263]

“I now call upon the Tathāgatas

and world-saviors [possessing] the great mind of bodhi:
I but pray that everywhere throughout realms in the ten directions
you will constantly cause Dharma showers to rain down from
great clouds!”

The mantra of the expedient means of solicitation is: Oṃ sarva-

tathāgatādhyeṣaṇapūjāmeghasamudraspharaṇasamaye hūṃ. (Oṃ, O pledge
of the diffusion of oceanlike clouds of worship consisting of requesting all
Tathāgatas [for instruction], hūṃ!) [264]

“I pray that you will cause ordinary people, wherever they may dwell,
to quickly cast off their bodies, aggregations of much suffering,
And that they will be able to reach the place without sully,
there to dwell peacefully in the pure body of the Dharma realm.”

The mantra of the expedient means for invoking the Dharma body is:
Oṃ sarvatathāgatā[n] adhyeṣayāmi sarvasattvahitārthāya dharmadhātusthitir
bhavatu. (Oṃ, I summon all Tathāgatas. For the sake of the weal of all beings,
may the Dharma realm perdure!) [265]

“All the wholesome actions that I have cultivated

in order to bring benefit to all beings,
I now duly redirect them all
so that they may remove the suffering of birth-and-death and
lead to bodhi.”

The mantra of the expedient means for redirecting [merit] is: Oṃ sarva-
tathāgataniryātanapūjāmeghasamudraspharaṇasamaye hūṃ. (Oṃ, O pledge
of the diffusion of oceanlike clouds of worship consisting of offerings to all
Tathāgatas, hūṃ!) [266]

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 Fascicle Seven

In addition, you may perform other meritorious deeds,

such as recitation, perambulation, and sitting comfortably
[in meditation],
In order to make the body and mind completely pure 47a
and save out of pity self and others.
The nature of the mind being thus free from sullies,
the body sits at peace as is appropriate.
Next, you should bind the samaya seal,
which purifies the path of the three actions.
You should know that the appearance of the secret seal
has been explained by the Perfectly All-knowing Ones:
You should clasp the left and right hands together, raise both thumbs,
And touch all parts [of the body] while reciting the mantra.

The vidyā “Entry into the Buddhas’ Samaya” is: Namaḥ sarvatathā-
gatebhyo viśvamukhebhyaḥ, oṃ asame trisame samaye svāhā. (Homage to
all Tathāgatas in all directions! Oṃ, O pledge of three equals, without equal!
svāhā!) [267; cf. 6]

By merely binding this mystic seal one is able to purify the stage of
the Tathāgata;
The [ten] stages and [six] pāramitās will be completed, and one will
accomplish the sphere of the path of the three dharmas.
The other seals are as explained in order in the sutra;
The mantrin should know that his actions will be successful.
Next, bind the insignia of the mystic wisdom of birth in the Dharma
realm;
Because it purifies body, speech, and mind, your body is completely
transformed.
The right and left hands both form adamantine fists,
With the two thumbs inside the palms and both forefingers perfectly
straight.
This is called the secret seal of purification of the Dharma realm.

The mantra “birth in the Dharma realm” is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,

dharmadhātusvabhāvako ’haṃ. [268 = 7]

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

Visualize your own person as being like the Dharma realm in its
own nature,
And utter the mantra three times.
You should see yourself dwelling in the Dharma body, unsullied like
empty space,
For the awesome power of the mantra and seal empowers the
practitioner.
In order to make this [state] firm, visualize yourself as having an
adamantine body
And bind the seal of adamantine knowledge: with the left and right
hands back to back,
The left and right small, ring, middle, and forefingers support
each other,
47b While the two thumbs are each rotated so that they meet in the palm
of the right hand.
This is called the supremely auspicious seal of the Dharma wheel,
And this person will before long be the same as a world-savior.
The adept will see the awesome power of the mantra and seal,
And like the precious wheel-turner (cakravartin) he will always turn
the great Dharma wheel.

The mantra of Vajrasattva is: Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, vajrātmako

’ham. [269 = 8]

Having recited this mantra, you should dwell in mental equipoise

And clearly visualize this body of yours as being identical to
Vajradhara.
To all who see you, including immeasurable heavenly demons,
You are like Vajrasattva—do not engender any doubting thoughts
about this.
Next, with a mantra and seal, don adamantine armor:
You should visualize the garments that you wear producing fiery
light rays all over your body.
Because you use this to adorn your body, demons, obstructors,
And other evil-minded creatures will all scatter in the four directions
on seeing you.

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 Fascicle Seven

The appearance of the mystic seal for this: first form the saṃpuṭa
[hand-clasp];
The two forefingers of the left and right hands are curled around on
top of the middle fingers,
And the two thumbs stand side by side in between the palms.
Having recited the mantra, you should visualize the letter of
unsulliedness (Ra).

The mantra of adamantine armor is: Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, oṃ

vajrakavaca hūṃ. (Homage to all Vajras! Oṃ, O adamantine armor! hūṃ!)
[270; cf. 9]

The letter Ra is pure white in color and adorned with a dot of

emptiness;
Place it on top of your head, like a bright gem in a topknot.
Even the sullies of sins accumulated in a hundred eons
Are completely eliminated by this, and merit and wisdom are all
consummated.

The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, raṃ. [271 = 84]

[This] mantra, identical to the Dharma realm, removes immeasurable 47c

sins,
And before long you will succeed in dwelling in the stage of
nonregression.
To all places of defilement you should apply this letter-gateway,
Red in color, endowed with awesome splendor, and completely
surrounded by a wreath of flames.
Next, in order to vanquish demons and curb great obstacles,
You should recall the vidyā “Unendurable Great Protection.”

The vidyā “Unendurable Great Protection” is: Namaḥ sarvatathā-

gatebhyaḥ sarvabhayavigatebhyo viśvamukhebhyaḥ, sarvathā haṃ khaṃ
rakṣa mahābale sarvatathāgatapuṇyanirjāte hūṃ hūṃ trāṭ trāṭ apratihate
svāhā. [272 = 5]

Through the mere recollection [of this mantra] vināyakas

And rākṣasas of evil form will all scatter.

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 Chapter III

The Worship Ritual

Having thus purified himself with right actions,

[the practitioner] dwells in meditation, visualizing his own
mantra-lord;
He invokes him with mantras and seals,
and should first display the samaya.
Intercorresponding with the mantra, he removes obstructors,
also using Acala’s wisdom-sword seal.
Bowing down and offering up argha water,
the practitioner then offers up seats for the mantra [deities].
Next, he should make offerings of flowers, unguent, and so on
and remove any sully, again with Acalanātha.
Warding off [obstacles] and purification are all [done] like this,
and his own mantra-lord is used for empowerment,
Or else he visualizes himself surrounded by immeasurable and
innumerable multitudes
of buddhas and sons born of the Jina.

The above are the verses of summary. Below the procedures will be
explained individually.

Visualize the letter Ra in front, possessing a dot and extensively

adorned;
That is to say, [it has] a wreath of flames with pure light and shines
with the radiance of the morning sun.
Thinking on the true meaning of the sound [of the letter Ra], you
will be able to remove all obstacles
And be liberated from the sullies of the three poisons; all dharmas
are also thus [free from sully].

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

First you purify your mind-ground and then purify the ground of the
ritual site.
48a Completely cleared of defects, its appearance is like empty space,
And this ground is just as if it were supported by vajras.
First, at the lowest level, imagine a wind circle,
On which rests the letter Ha, wherefrom there emanates black fiery
light.

The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, haṃ. [273 = 91]

Next, on top of this place a water circle, its color like snow or milk,
On which rests the letter Va, with the light rays of a sphaṭi[ka]
(crystal), the moon, or lightning.

The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, vaṃ. (Homage to all

Buddhas! vaṃ!) [274]

Then, on top of the water circle, visualize a vajra circle

And mentally place on it the primordial letter (A); [the vajra circle
is] square and completely yellow in color.

The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, a. [275 = 73]

This circle is adamantinelike and called “great indra (mahendra),”

And fiery light, the color of pure gold, flows forth everywhere.
Within it imagine the Guide and Buddha’s sons.
Visualize in water a white lotus of fine color with a vajra for a stem;
Eight-petaled, it has stamens, is adorned with jewels,
Constantly emits immeasurable light rays, and is surrounded by a
hundred thousand lotuses.
On top of it then visualize the lion throne of the Great Awakened One,
Decorated with the king of jewels, inside a great palace.
Jeweled pillars145 stand all in rows, and there are banners and
parasols everywhere;
Chaplets of pearls are intertwined, and finely jeweled raiments hang
pendent.
It is circumfused with clouds of fragrant flowers and jeweled clouds,
And sundry flowers rain down all around, adorning the ground in
great profusion;

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 Fascicle Seven

Music plays in harmonious rhythms and with lovely voices.

Inside the palace imagine pure and wondrous flasks and argha
[vessels];
The king of jeweled trees is in full bloom, and [the palace] is
illuminated with maṇi lamps.
There are handmaidens of samādhis, dhāraṇīs, the [ten] stages, and 48b
[tenfold] freedom,
The Buddha’s pāramitās and so on, and wondrously ornate flowers
of bodhi:
With expedient means they perform sundry arts and sing the sounds
of the wondrous Dharma.
“On account of the power of my merit, the power of the Tathāgata’s
empowerment,
And the power of the Dharma realm I abide in universal offering.”

The vidyārājñī “Proceeding from the Treasury of Empty Space (Gagana-

gañja)” is: Namaḥ sarvatathāgatebhyo viśvamukhebhyaḥ, sarvathā khamud-
gate spharahīmaṃ gaganakaṃ svāhā. [276 = 141] <The method is that it
should be recited many times.>

The empowerment of everything with this is no different from what

is real.
Form the adamantine hand-clasp: this is the seal of empowerment.
All dharmas are unborn for their own-nature is originally quiescent:
Think on this truth, and [then] place the letter A in the center
[of the lotus].
Next, you should transform the letter A into the Muni Vairocana:
Many [world-systems] inexhaustible like the dust motes of [countless
buddha] fields appear everywhere in his halo
In multiples of a thousand realms, and he emanates circles of fiery
light
That pervade the realms of beings and make them enlightened
according to their nature.
His body and speech are all-pervading, and so too is the Buddha’s
mind.
The color of pure gold from the Jambū [River] so as to conform
with the world,

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

He sits cross-legged on a lotus, meditating and free from the

[three] poisons;
He wears robes of light silk and has a crown of hair naturally done
in a topknot.
In the case of Śākyamuni, imagine the letter Bhaḥ in that [lotus]
And again transform this letter into the honored one Śākyamuni:
The striving hero has a kāṣā[ya] robe and the thirty-two attributes
of a great person.

The seed heart[-mantra] of Śākya[muni] is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,

bhaḥ. [277 = 95]

The letter-gateway (Bhaḥ) changes into a buddha, who benefits beings

Just like the honored one Vairocana, and the yogin observes how
One body, two bodies, through to immeasurable bodies
48c Similarly enter [the Buddha’s] own body and also issue forth likewise.
On a lotus to the right of the Buddha you should visualize your
own deity,
And on the left place the striving hero Vajradhara with his attendants.
On flowery pedestals in front and behind are vast multitudes of
bodhisattvas
Who bring benefit to beings, such as those who will succeed to the
position [of a buddha] after one more birth.
On the right side below the flowery seat is the mantrin’s place.
If you worship Mañjuśrī, place the letter of no-self (Maṃ) in the
center [of the lotus]:
This letter will be transformed into the person [of Mañjuśrī] as in
the earlier visualization.

The seed heart[-mantra] of Mañjuśrī is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,

maṃ. [278 = 82]

In the case of Avalokiteśvara or Vajrasattva,

Maitreya, Samantabhadra, Kṣitigarbha, [Sarva]nīvaraṇaviṣkambhin,
Buddhalocanā, Pāṇḍaravāsinī, Tārā, Bhṛkuṭī,
Māmakī, Śaṃkara, Golden Wheel (i.e., cakravartin), Hayagrīva,
Vidyādharas, male and female messengers, wrathful [deities],
and servants

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 Fascicle Seven

Follow your desires in transforming them [from their seed-syllables]

according to the earlier method.
In order to make their minds rejoice, offer up external unguent,
flowers,
Lamps and argha water, all as explained in the main teachings.
Use Acala to remove sullies, ward off [obstacles], cause effulgence,
Empower yourself in your own rite, and protect your own person;
For binding the boundaries in all directions, alternatively use
Trailokyavijaya.
Invoke [the deities] in accordance with the seals and mantras used
in the main teachings,
And [alternatively] in conjunction with this general seal and king
of mantras.

The mantra of the holy one Acalanātha is: Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ,

caṇḍamahāroṣaṇa sphoṭaya hūṃ traṭ hāṃ māṃ. (Homage to all Vajras! O
you who are violent and very wrathful! rend! hūṃ traṭ hāṃ māṃ!)146 [279;
cf. 63] <You should recite this three times.>

You should form adamantine fists with both the left and right hands,
And extend the middle fingers and forefingers straight out, while the
thumbs hold down the little and ring fingers.
The left hand forms a sheath and the right hand formsa sword, 49a
And the sword of the right hand is always inserted into, rests in,
and is drawn from the sheath of the left hand.
This is the mode of conduct for the mystic seal of Acalanātha.
The left hand rests against your heart, while the right hand is rotated
all around:
You should know that things touched by it are said to have been
removed of sully.
Rotating it to the left (i.e., counterclockwise), you accomplish by
this means the warding off [of obstacles],
And when binding the boundaries in the [cardinal] directions and
[intermediate] quarters, in each case make [the right hand] rotate
to the right (i.e., clockwise).
Other sundry deeds, such as destroying evil and purifying obstacles,

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Should also be performed in this manner in accordance with their type.

Next, with mantra and seal, invoke the holy ones:
The buddhas and bodhisattvas have said that they will come on the
basis of their own vows.

The mantra of the expedient means of invocation is: Namaḥ samanta-

buddhānāṃ, āḥ sarvatrāpratihate tathāgatāṅkuśa bodhicaryāparipūraka
svāhā. [280 = 162] <You should recite it seven times.>

With the hand-clasp of homage firmly bind the adamantine bind;

You should extend the forefinger of the right hand straight up
And crook the upper phalanx—hence it is called the hook seal.
With this the buddhas, saviors of the world, summon all
Bodhisattvas of great power dwelling peacefully in the ten stages
and so on,
As well as other beings with unwholesome minds, difficult to
subjugate.
Next, present the samaya together with the mantra and seal;
The appearance of the seal is as explained earlier in the samaya
teachings.

The samaya mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, asame trisame

samaye svāhā. [281 = 6] <You should recite it three times.>

By this expedient means duly show the samaya,

Whereupon you will be able to increase benefits everywhere for all
kinds of beings;
You will achieve siddhi and quickly fulfill the unsurpassed vow
49b So as to make the lord of your mantra and vidyā [deities] rejoice.
The argha water to be offered having been fully prepared in advance,
Use your own mantra and seal to empower it according to the rules.
Offer it up to the Sugatas for bathing their unsullied bodies,
And then you should cleanse all the sons born of the Buddha’s mouth.

The argha mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, gaganasamāsama

svāhā. [282 = 16] <You should recite it twenty-five times and use Acalanātha’s
seal for display.>

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Next, offer up the seats to be laid out together with the mystic seal
and mantra:
Binding [the seal], form lotus-flower pedestals and place them
everywhere.
The place where the Awakened One sat and realized supreme bodhi—
In order to obtain such a place, hold it up in offering.

The mantra of the Tathāgata’s seat is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, āḥ.

[283 = 152]

The appearance of the mystic seal for this: clasp the left and right
hands together
And stretch out all [the fingers] in the shape of a bell;
The two thumbs and little fingers are brought together to form
the pedestal,
And the ring fingers are kept slightly apart—this is the lotus-flower
seal.
Next, you should ward off the obstacles arisen from your own person
With the great wisdom-sword seal and mantra of the holy one Acala.
You will see how, like Supreme Adamantine Flame,147
You burn all obstacles so that none whatsoever remain.
The wise person should transform himself into the person of
Vajrasattva;
Intercorresponding with the mantra and seal, he applies [the seed-
syllable] to all parts of his body.

The seed heart[-mantra] of Vajra[sattva] is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,

vaṃ.148 [284 = 274]

Think on the true meaning of this, that all dharmas are dissociated
from speech,
And endowed with the seal and so on, you will be the same as
Vajradhara.
You should know the appearance of the seal: first, with [both hands
making] the saṃpuṭa [hand-clasp],
The middle fingers form a point in the middle, their tips sharply 49c
joined together;

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The forefingers, forming hooks, are extended, bent, and placed

alongside [the middle fingers],
And the ring fingers are interlocked in between the palms.

The mantra of Vajrasattva is: Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, caṇḍa-

mahāroṣaṇa hūṃ. [285 = 33]

Either make a half vajra seal with the left hand,

Or use rites explained in other scriptures.
Next, you should don adamantine armor over your whole body;
The mystic seals of body and speech have already been explained
previously according to the rules.
Place the letter Kha with a dot (i.e., Khaṃ) on top of your head
And think about this mantra, [which signifies that] all dharmas are
like empty space.

The mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, khaṃ. [286 = 85]

First you should dwell in this letter-gateway and then become the per-
son of Vajrasattva.

Next, you should singlemindedly form the seal for subduing demons:
The wise person should rotate it everywhere while intercorresponding
with the mantra.
Able to remove evil-minded beings of extreme ferocity,
You will see adamantine blazing fiery light all over the ground.

The mantra for vanquishing demons is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,

mahābalavati daśabalodbhave mahāmaitryabhyudgate svāhā. [287 = 159]

You should form an adamantine fist with the right hand,

Extend the forefinger straight out, and apply it to the place of the
white tuft [between the eyebrows],
Like an expression of bhṛkuṭi (frown)—this is the insignia.
This seal is called a great seal, and if you keep it in mind, you will
remove many demons.
By merely binding this ritual [seal], immeasurable armies of the
heavenly demon
And other obstructors will all most certainly disperse.

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Next, use the mystic seal and mantra of the Unendurable One, 50a
Using them to bind the surrounding boundary, which will be so
fearsome that none can look at it.

The mantra of the Unendurable One is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,

samantānugate bandhaya sīmāṃ mahāsamayanirjāte smaraṇe apratihate
dhaka dhaka dara dara bandha bandha daśadiśaṃ sarvatathāgatānujñāte
pravaradharmalabdhavijaye bhagavati vikuri vikule le lu puri vikule svāhā.
(Homage to all Buddhas! O you who are all-pervading! bind the boundary!
you who are born of the great pledge! you who remember! you who are unim-
peded! burn, burn! rend, rend! bind, bind the ten directions! you who are
authorized by all Tathāgatas! victorious one who has obtained the most excel-
lent Dharma! Blessed One! vikuri vikule le lu puri vikule! svāhā!) [288; cf.
72] <You should recite it three times.>
Alternatively, use a second abridged mantra: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,
le lu puri vikule svāhā. [289 = 167] <You should recite it seven times.>

First, with [both hands forming] the saṃpuṭa [hand-clasp], the

forefingers are placed in between the palms;
The two thumbs and the little fingers are bent inward like hooks,
The middle fingers meet to form a point, and the ring fingers are
spread apart.
Rotate it while pointing in the ten directions: this is called binding
the greater boundary.
Use it to preserve lands in the ten directions, making them all stable;
By this means affairs throughout the three ages can all be protected
everywhere.
Alternatively use Acalanātha to accomplish all things,
Protecting your person, purifying the site, binding the boundaries in
all directions, and so on.

The seed heart[-mantra] of Acalanātha is: Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ,

hāṃ. [290 = 78]

Next, first make obeisance reverentially and again offer argha;

As is explained in the sutras, make offerings of unguent and so on
according to the rules.

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

Then, with the holy one Acala empower these things,

Binding his wisdom-sword seal and sprinkling them all [with
perfumed water].
These prepared articles of offering such as unguent and flowers
Are to be sprinkled time and again with the mystic seal, and also
recite the mantras repeatedly.
50b For each utter the proper mantra and the vidyā to which you
yourself hold;
After having done this, you should pronounce the name [of the
offering] and then offer it up.
In each case first place everywhere the heart[-syllable] of the pure
Dharma realm,
That is to say, the letter-gateway Raṃ as was revealed earlier.

Among [the offerings] whose names are pronounced, the unguent mantra
is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, viśuddhagandhodbhava svāhā. [291 = 11]
<You should recite it three times.>
Next, the flower mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, mahāmaitrya-
bhyudgate svāhā. [292 = 12] <You should recite it three times.>
Next, the incense mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, dharma-
dhātvanugate svāhā. [293 = 13] <You should recite it three times.>
Next, the lamp mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, tathāgatā-
rcispharaṇāvabhāsanagaganaudārya svāhā. [294 = 15] <You should recite
it three times.>
Next, the food mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, ararakararabaliṃ
dade mahābali svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas! I give a food offering of
arara and karara. Great food offering! svāhā!) [295; cf. 14] <You should
recite it three times.>

For other articles of offering to be offered up

Follow these rules, purifying them with Acalanātha.
You should clasp the left and right palms together with the five
fingers interlaced:
This is the general offering seal for holding [oblatory] things.
The mantrin endowed with wisdom, in revering the holy deities,
Also performs a mental ritual, pure and most pleasing.149

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Everything offered fills equally like the Dharma realm

This region and other lands, entering all destinies everywhere—
Produced by the merit of buddhas and bodhisattvas,
Banners and pennants, chapleted canopies, vast and wondrous 50c
pavilions,
The king of heavenly jeweled trees, all with the implements [of
worship],
And clouds of unguent and flowers, unbounded like empty space,
Each raining down offerings offered to accomplish buddha deeds:
Imagine that you present them all to buddhas and bodhisattvas.
With the vidyā of Gaganagañja and the general seal of offering
Perform empowerment thrice, and your wishes will all be
accomplished.

The additional phrases when reciting the vidyā of Gaganagañja say:

“With the power of my merit and the power of the Dharma realm,
They are easy to obtain at all times—vast and also pure,
Clouds of arrays of great offerings flow forth from the oceanlike
assembly
Of all Tathāgatas and multitudes of bodhisattvas
On account of the empowerment of all buddhas and bodhisattvas.
The merits accumulated by deeds performed according to the rules
I redirect to the accomplishment of siddhi for the benefit of beings.”
Speak with such thoughts, wishing that your vidyā practices may be
pure.
For obstacles to be eliminated and merits to be consummated of
their own accord,
Cultivate right practices at any time—there is no fixed term.
If mantrins seek siddhi in this life,
First they should recite according to the rules and just perform
mental offering.
When what has to be done has come to an end, then for one month,
And complete with external rites, recite mantras.
Furthermore, with the special chant of Vajradhara
Worship the buddhas and bodhisattvas, and you will gain
quick success.

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The arcā (adoration) verses of Vajradhara say:150

The Dharma, unequaled, unmoving, equal, and firm,

Has pity for those who transmigrate and takes away their sufferings.
Universally bestowing siddhi and all merits,
The Dharma is free from sully, unchanging, incomparable, and most
excellent.
51a Commensurate with empty space, it cannot be compared,
And even ten million particles of dust would not approach one of its
[particles].
Forever in vows to accomplish results in the realms of beings,
[The buddhas] are inexhaustible with regard to siddhi, and are
therefore beyond comparison.
Their compassion, always unsullied, arises from effort
And accomplishes siddhi according to their vows, by nature unable
to be obscured.
They achieve the objectives of beings, extending everywhere all
around,
And shine forth constantly and unceasingly, beings vast in their
compassion.
Free from obstacles and without impediments, those who practice
the practice of compassion
Suffuse the three ages, granting the accomplishment of wishes.
In that whose measure is immeasurable it leads to the ultimate place—
How marvelous is this wondrous Dharma, reached by the Sugata!
Just do not transgress your vow, and grant me the unsurpassed result!
Those who grant these wishes, forever arrived at the special place,
Widely throughout the world do they fulfill excellent wishes,
Undefiled in all destinies and without a support in the three realms.

These above verses are the same as a mantra, and you should recite the
Sanskrit text.151

Having recited these praises in verse, with utmost sincerity take

refuge in the Guiding Teacher of the world:
“I but pray that the holy ones will grant me siddhi for the
compassionate relief of sentient beings!”

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Then, out of a desire to benefit others, visualize everywhere clouds

of transformations of the Buddha:
“Through the merit that I have cultivated, the empowerment of the
buddhas, and Samantabhadra’s own power of the Dharma realm,
They sit on lotus-flower pedestals and go in the ten directions,
guiding beings in accordance with their inclinations.
Relying on the Tathāgatas’ own vows, they cleanse all inner and
outer obstacles
And make manifest supramundane implements, filling them in
accordance with their faith-and-understanding,
Adorned by my merits and arisen in the pure Dharma realm.
On account of empowerment by the Tathāgata’s supernatural power
they accomplish the objectives of beings
And replenish the buddhas’ repository, inconceivable in its
discharging of inexhaustible treasures.”
Recite three times the vidyā “Proceeding from the Treasury of
Empty Space (Gaganagañja)”; the appearance of the mystic seal
is as was explained earlier.
Trainees in this Mantra Vehicle should therefore engender a mind of
clear faith:
This has been proclaimed by all the Guiding Teachers, and so do not 51b
slander it or engender doubts.

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The Rules for Recitation

Having worshiped in this manner with full rites,

arouse thoughts of benefiting inexhaustible beings,
Bow down to the buddhas and holy divinities,
and, dwelling in the yoga posture, enter samādhi.
The ritual rules for the four kinds of contemplation152
can make joy and happiness rise in your inner heart,
And through empowerment by the [mantra’s] true meaning
you will attain mental equipoise accomplished with mantras.
Now the expedient means will be next explained
for when you perform the recitation of mantras.
The wise person, in accordance with what was revealed earlier,
visualizes his own deity in front of him.
Inside the bright circle of the moon in his heart
he clearly sees all the letters of the mantra,
And he should recite them in sequence
until his mind has been made pure and unsullied.
The number [of recitations], the times [for recitation], the
manifestation of signs, and so on
are to be completed by following the sutra teachings.
When seeking after objectives possessing [external] signs,
mantra siddhi will be accomplished at will:
This is called mundane practice with signs;
the four-limbed dhyāna gateway is different again.
The practitioner should engender a resolute mind,
and first he should visualize his deity as his sole focus:
Holding to the [deity’s] mantra and secret seal,
he himself becomes in yoga the image of his deity.

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With regard to physical appearance, mode of conduct, and so on

[he thinks] my body is no different [from the deity’s] and that his
conduct is also the same,
And by dwelling in a body correspondent to the original state [of the
deity],
even someone with little merit will be successful.
This is explained in the section on the supreme truth in the Yoga
[Tantras].
Next, he should transmute the letter-gateways of the vidyā,
And by assuming through visualization the form of his deity,
he will succeed in seeing the insignia of the secret of the body.
The scriptures explain in brief that there are two signs:
visualization of the Perfectly All-knowing One is regarded as
foremost,
And next, moving on to visualization of bodhisattvas and holy
divinities,
Mañjuśrī is regarded as chief [of these].
Then act in accordance with the [deity’s] station
by intercorresponding with the seal and mantra.

Mañjuśrī’s seed[-syllable] is the letter-gateway Maṃ, and it has already

been explained in the previous chapter.

He who intercorresponds with the samādhi of his own deity

places that heart[-mantra] on his heart as a seed-[syllable];
He should observe himself thus,
resting in the pure bodhi-mind.
The figure [of the deity] known by many
he follows in his practice, and it must not differ.
He should know that the holy one, the honored Mañjuśrī,
is in physical appearance like the color of saffron.
On top of his head he displays a young boy’s mark of five topknots;
in his left [hand] there is a vajra on a blue lotus,
And with his right hand [he forms the seal of] bestowing fearlessness
or forms the adamantine wish-granting seal.

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The mantra of Mañjuśrī is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, he he kumāraka 51c

vimuktipathasthita smara smara pratijñāṃ svāhā. [296 = 32]

Clasp the left and right hands together in the hollow hand-clasp;
the middle fingers are intertwined with the ring fingers,
And the two forefingers are bent around onto the thumbs,
like hooks in shape, to form the mystic seal.
Use it to apply to [all] parts of your body
and then perform sundry deeds.
You should know that the yoga for rotating the [seed-]syllables
of buddhas and bodhisattvas is also like this.
Alternatively, it is no infraction to use in this manner
mantras and seals explained in other sutras,
And either base yourself on different ritual rules explained in those
[sutras]
or use the ordinary gateway to the three mysteries.
For him who understands how to rotate [the letters of a mantra]
everything that he does will be successful.

The general seed heart[-mantra] is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, ka.

(Homage to all Buddhas! Ka.) [297]

The letter-gateway Ka explained in the scriptures

is that all dharmas are without activity (kārya):
With the light of this principle
you should meditate on the true meaning of this sound.
The seal of the cintāmaṇi, king of jewels:
interlock the five fingers of the left and right hands—
It is the form of the adamantine hand-clasp,
common to all bodhisattva rites.

The mantra of all bodhisattvas is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, sarvathā

vimativikiraṇa dharmadhātunirjāta saṃ saṃ ha svāhā. [298 = 69]

The letter Kha contains all colors, and to it is added a great dot of
emptiness (i.e., Khaṃ);
As declared earlier, place it on top of your head:

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

You will gain equality with empty space, and all dharmas are also
said to be thus.
Then, inside your head imagine the primordial letter (A),
Adorned with a pure white dot (i.e., Aṃ), the supreme essence of the
hundred[-lettered] vidyā.153
The eyes, like bright lamps, have the letter of unsulliedness with the
great [dot of] emptiness (i.e., Raṃ).
Dwell in the station of your deity, and the Perfectly Awakened One
will appear in front of you:
You should look in this manner until he becomes quite clear.
52a Again, visualize a lunar disc, full and clear, in your heart,
Shining brightly with the letter-gateway A, rendered completely in
the color of a vajra (i.e., yellow).
The true meaning of [this] sound is explained as the original non-birth
of all dharmas:
Duly observe in this how everything arises from this essence.
The letters of the sound are like a garland of flowers, surrounded by
bright flames,
The light of which, universally bright and pure, is able to destroy the
caves of ignorance.154
Starting with the letter Ka, the other letter-gateways too
Should all be cultivated by this method while thinking on the truth
of the sounds.
Alternatively, arrange in a circle your own mantra inside a bright
circle:
Single letters and words follow the breath in going out and coming in.
Alternatively, practice the mental or [four-]limbed methods
in accordance with reason as when in mental equipoise;
Think of accomplishing siddhi with thoughts of universally benefiting
beings.
When performing recitation, stop once you become very tired.
Alternatively, arrange the letters of the mantra inside a lunar [disc]
in your heart
And, in accordance with their profound and mystic meaning,
contemplate the truth of their sounds.

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 Fascicle Seven

He who recites in this manner performs yet another expedient means:

For accomplishing roots of goodness with the mass of merits that he
has cultivated,
He should practice the mental or [four-]limbed rite, for which there
is no fixed time.
If he wishes for higher, middling, or lower siddhi in the present life,
He should with this expedient means first perform mental recitation.
Such are the rites taught by the Perfectly Awakened World-honored
Ones.
Moreover, he presents unguent, flowers, and so on, making offerings
according to his ability.

There are in brief two methods of preliminary recitation. One is depend-

ent on time, and the second is dependent on signs. “Time” means the com-
pletion of the expected number [of recitations] and fixed periods such as
terms of days or months. “Signs” means blazing light and sounds emitted
by a buddha’s stupa or a painting or image. You should know that these are
signs that the mantra practitioner’s obstacles [resulting from past] sins have
been cleansed.
It is as is explained in the sutra:155 having first recited with mental appli-
cation, then recite a full one lakṣa [times]. Thereafter spend a second month,
practicing expedient means complete with the [four] limbs, and then per-
form rites of accomplishment in accordance with your prime wish. If there
are [signs indicative of] obstacles, first, relying on the gateway for the man-
ifestation of signs, use mental recitation, and then in the second month do 52b
worship complete with the [four] limbs. Thus should it be known.

Then, for him who, desirous of practicing the gateway to the

Tathāgata’s three mysteries,
One month has passed, the expedient means will next be explained.
If the practitioner recites the mantra with seal of Mahāvairocana,
The Perfectly Awakened One, he should rely on the following method.

The seed heart[-mantra] of Vairocana is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,

a. [299 = 73]
The gateway to the letter A means that all dharmas are originally unborn,
as was explained earlier.

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 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

The bodily mystic seal for this is that of the Perfectly Awakened
One’s white tuft attribute (ūrṇā):
The right hand [forms] an adamantine fist and rests between the
eyebrows.

The mantra of the Tathāgata’s Ūrṇā is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, āḥ

haṃ jaḥ. [300 = 155]

As before, transform the letter A into the honored one Vairocana:

On account of empowerment by the power of the Dharma, he is no
different from your own person.
Dwelling in the yoga of your own deity, apply the five letters
To the lower part of the body, the navel, the heart, the top of the
head, and between the eyebrows:
[Mentally] manipulate their forms and establish them while in
samāhita (meditation).
By dwelling in accordance with this method, you will be identical
with the honored one [Śākya]muni.
The letter A, completely golden in color, is used to form a vajra circle:
It empowers the lower part of the body and is called the yoga seat.
The letter Vaṃ, [the color of] white moonlight, is in the midst of a
hazy mass:
It empowers your navel and is called water of great compassion.
The letter Raṃ, like the first light of day, is red and in a triangle:
It empowers the locus of your heart and is called light of the fire
of wisdom.
The letter Haṃ, like the flames of the [fire] calamity [at the end] of
an eon, is black in color and in a wind circle:
It empowers the place of the white tuft [between the eyebrows] and
is called sovereign power.
The letter Kha with a dot of emptiness (i.e., Khaṃ) becomes all colors:
It empowers the top of the head and is therefore called great emptiness.

These five kinds of mantra-hearts have already been explained in Chap-

ter II.156 <In addition, these five verses should be supplemented somewhat
52c with the meaning of the sutra by those who have been ordained so as to elab-
orate on their wording.>

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 Fascicle Seven

Your body adorned with [these] five letters, potency is fully

accomplished,
And the blazing torch of great wisdom extinguishes all sinful actions.
The hosts of the army of the heavenly demon and other obstructors
Will see such a person as being resplendent like a vajra.
Furthermore, inside your head place the king of universal illumination
with one hundred light rays (Aṃ),
And you will establish unsullied eyes, brightly shining like lamps.
Dwelling in yoga as before and likewise empowered,
The wise person sees himself as being identical with the Tathāgata’s
body.
He intercorresponds with a garland of sounds in the place of the
bright circle of the moon in his heart,
With no break in the letters, just like bells in harmony.
Taking any mantra of the Perfectly Awakened One, recite it,
And with this expedient means you will quickly achieve siddhi.
Next, if you meditate on the honored one Śākyamuni,
I shall now proclaim next the letter-gateway of the vidyā to be used.

Śākya[muni]’s seed[-syllable] is the letter-gateway Bhaḥ, and it has

already been explained in the previous chapter.

The true meaning of this sound is dissociation from all visualization

(bhāvanā).
For the Buddha’s bodily mystic seal, use that of the Tathāgata’s
almsbowl and so on:
You should place the right hand on top of the palm of the left hand
In the posture of meditation and rest it against the navel.

The mantra of the Buddha Śākyamuni is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ,

sarvakleśaniṣūdana sarvadharmavaśitāprāpta gaganasamāsama svāhā. [301
= 40]
In this manner other mystic seals and mantras of the Perfectly and Fully
Awakened One may be used, each based on the main sutra. Again, in accor-
dance with the earlier expedient means you should visualize the letter-gate-
way being transformed into the person of your deity, and, dwelling in the
methods of yoga, you should arrange the seed[-syllables] and then recite the

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mantra you have received. If you abide by this practice of the Tathāgata, you
will in the king of maṇḍalas “Born of the Matrix of Great Compassion”
obtain consecration as an ācārya, and be fit for full practice; this is not suit-
able for those who have obtained only the consecration for reciting vidyās.
53a As for the procedures of the expedient means of the four-limbed dhyāna
gateway, even if the ritual rules explained in other sutras have deficiencies,
you will gain freedom from faults if you practice in accordance with this
method. Because your deity will rejoice, it will increase its awesome power
and merit will accrue accordingly. Then when you have finished reciting,
use this method frequently to protect yourself. Even though it may not be
explained in other sutras, you should apply its intent generally, and it will
cause the practitioner to obtain success quickly.

Next, the ritual for the layout of the maṇḍala

in which your deity dwells:
The altar is the color of his figure,
and by means of this yoga you will quickly be successful.
You should know that there are three kinds of siddhi:
pacification of calamities, increase of benefits, and subjugation
of the mind.
In differentiating [ritual] deeds, there are four divisions,
and they should be used according to their type:
The colors are pure white, yellow, red, and deep black,
and the altars are round, square, triangular, and lotus[-shaped].
Facing north, the superior quarter,157 dwell in the lotus posture
with a dispassionate mind for deeds of pacifying calamities.
Facing east, the initial quarter, [sit in] the auspicious posture158
with a happy mien for deeds of increasing benefits.
Facing west, the rear quarter, [sit] in the good posture159
with both joy and anger for deeds of summoning.
Facing south, the lower quarter, squat and so on
with an appearance of anger for deeds of subjugation.
Know too the secret insignia,
posture, color, and mode of conduct [of your deity],
And present flowers, unguent, and so on as appropriate—
everything should be widely differentiated in this manner:

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 Fascicle Seven

Deeds for purifying obstacles, increasing merit, fulfillment and so on,

[causing someone] to quit a place and go far away, and slaying.
Mantras that have the word oṃ at the beginning
and have svāhā added at the end are for use in pacifying calamities;
If a mantra begins with the word oṃ
and has hūṃ phaṭ added at the end, it is for use in summoning;
Those with namaḥ at the beginning and end are for use in increasing
benefits,
and those with hūṃ phaṭ at the beginning and end are for use in
subjugating;
The word hūṃ and the word phaṭ are applicable to [all] three
situations,160
and add the name [of the person concerned] in between.
Differentiating the characteristics of mantras in this manner,
the wise person should understand everything.

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 Chapter V

Mantra Deeds

Then the mantra practitioner, having finished reciting by the rules as appro-
priate, should again in accordance with the earlier [ritual] deeds empower
himself so that he becomes the person of Vajrasattva, think of the immeas-
urable merits of multitudes of buddhas and bodhisattvas, arouse thoughts of
great compassion toward inexhaustible realms of beings, and make offer-
ings according to his means. Having made offerings, he should then single-
mindedly clasp his palms together and with adamantine chanting and other
sublime words extol the true merits of the Tathāgata. 53b
Then, with all the good that he has performed, he redirects it and makes
a vow, uttering these words: “Just as the Great Awakened World-honored One
redirected the merit that he had realized, comprehended, and accumulated
toward unsurpassed bodhi, so too do I now give my entire mass of merit to
beings in the Dharma realm to enable them all to cross the sea of birth-and-
death all together, accomplish the path of omniscience, satisfy all the dhar-
mas of own-benefit and benefiting others, and abide by the great abode of the
Tathāgata. It is not that I seek bodhi for my own sake alone. As long as I repeat
birth-and-death to save beings so that they may similarly obtain all-faceted
knowledge, I will always cultivate merit and knowledge without engaging in
any other actions. I pray that we may attain foremost happiness and that the
sought-after siddhis will be all consummated, free from any obstacles.”
In addition, he thinks further: “Let me be quickly endowed with vari-
ous pure and wondrous jewels, both internal and external, and myself adorned
therewith. May they continuously and uninterruptedly flow forth everywhere
and by reason of this fulfill every wish of all beings.”
Thus has it been explained above in brief. When practicing more exten-
sively, you should do as is explained in Samantabhadra’s Vow of Practice
(Bhadracaryāpraṇidhāna) and other sutras of the Great Vehicle, reciting

243
 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

them with resolve. Alternatively, say: “Just as buddhas and bodhisattvas

aroused vows of great compassion [in accordance with] what they them-
selves had realized, so too do I make a vow.”
Next, you should offer up argha. Form the hand-clasp of homage, place
it on top of your head, think of the true merits of buddhas and bodhisattvas,
make obeisance with utmost sincerity, and speak these verses:

In all those who have long been free from all faults, whose bodies
are adorned with immeasurable merits,
And who are intent on bringing benefit to beings I now take refuge
and make obeisance to them all.

Next, you should address the holy ones, speaking these verses:

The buddhas here present, the world-saving bodhisattvas,

And those who have reached the special stage without discontinuing
the teachings of the Great Vehicle—
I but pray that the multitude of holy divinities will acknowledge me
with certainty,
And may each, according to their abode, later deign to come again
out of pity.

Then, using the samaya mantra and mystic seal, you should release [the
seal] on top of your head and engender the thought that all the protection
and empowerment [performed earlier with mantras and seals] has been
released. With this expedient means the deities earlier invoked each return
to their abode, otherwise [if not released] they will be compelled to remain
on account of their unequaled great vows.
Next, use [the mantra and seal of] the essence of the Dharma realm to
53c empower yourself, think of the pure bodhi-mind, and dwell in the person of
Vajrasattva. The vidyās and seals for this have already been explained in
Chapter II. When you have finished reciting, empower yourself with those
three seals, and all the gateways to mantra practices having come to an end,
the rules will have all been fulfilled.
Then, in accordance with the earlier expedient means, you should visu-
alize the letter of the Dharma realm (i.e., Raṃ), marking the top of your head
with it. Don adamantine armor, and on account of this secret adornment you

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 Fascicle Seven

will become indestructible, like a vajra in nature. All those who hear your
voice or see or touch you will most certainly be [established] in anuttarā
samyaksaṃbodhi, with all merits completely accomplished, and you will be
equal to the World-honored One Vairocana, with no difference.
Next, arouse thoughts of advancement and practice special deeds. In a
clean place adorned with fragrant flowers first make yourself into the bodhi-
sattva Avalokiteśvara or dwell in the own-nature of the Tathāgata and, fol-
lowing the earlier expedient means, empower [yourself] with a mantra and
mystic seal. Then, with thoughts of [making] a Dharma gift, read aloud the
Vaipulya scriptures of the Great Vehicle or else recite them [silently] in your
mind and invite heavenly divinities and so on to listen to them. As is said in
these verses:

In the Adamantine Pinnacle Sutra it is taught that Avalokiteśvara,

lotus-eyed,
Is identical with all buddhas, a body of inexhaustible adornments.
Alternatively, use the Guiding Teacher of the world, sovereign over
all dharmas,
And, taking either of their names, perform empowerment with their
original nature.

The seed heart[-mantra] of Avalokiteśvara is: Namaḥ samanta-

buddhānāṃ, saḥ. [302 = 80]

The true meaning of [this] letter-gateway is that all dharmas are

undefiled:
With the enunciation of the sound you should perform such a
visualization.
The appearance of the bodily mystic [seal] for this is the so-called
lotus-flower seal,
Like the seat offered earlier—I have already explained it separately.

Next, the mantra of Avalokiteśvara is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, sarva-

tathāgatāvalokita karuṇāmaya ra ra ra hūṃ jaḥ svāhā. [303 = 25]
[As] before, place the heart-letter of the Dharma realm (i.e., Raṃ) on
top of your head, use this mantra and mystic seal for empowerment, and to
the best of your ability read aloud the scriptural Dharma or construct a caitya, 54a

245
The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

maṇḍala, and so on. When what has to be done has been completed, next
rise from your seat, and with a peaceable countenance you should attend to
human affairs.
Then in order to obtain sustenance for your body, next go begging for
food, or else it is obtained either through an invitation [to a meal] by a dāna-
pati (donor) or within the sangha. You should eschew fish, meat, [strong-
]smelling vegetables, and leftovers from offerings to your deity and the
buddhas, as well as various scraps that are unclean. Nor should you consume
any liquor or juices from the fruits of trees which may intoxicate people.
Next, present morsels of food, offering them to your deity, and perform
the food rite as you please. If there happen to be any leftovers, then put aside
a small amount for the relief of the starving and the needy. You should engen-
der these thoughts: “In order to maintain my physical vessel and practice the
path in peace, I accept these morsels of food, just as the linchpin of a cart-
wheel is greased in order to make it reach the destination without breaking
down. I must not on account of the food’s taste be swayed in my mind and
engender thoughts of pleasure or physical adornment.” Then visualize the
heart-letter of the Dharma realm, completely purifying the food, and with
the action-vajra empower your own person: the seed[-syllable] for this is
like the mantra for the letter Vaṃ explained [in Chapter III].161 Then recite
the vidyā for bestowing the ten powers eight times, and eat the food. This
vidyā is: Namaḥ sarvabuddhabodhisattvānāṃ, oṃ balaṃdade162 tejomālini
svāhā. (Homage to all Buddhas and bodhisattvas! Oṃ, O you who grant
power! you who are wreathed in splendor! svāhā!) [304]
Dwelling thus, first accomplish the yoga of your deity. When you have
finished eating, you should offer the leftover food that has been touched to
those who deserve to eat it with the mantra-heart for accomplishing all deeds.
You should use the mantra of the holy one Acala, infallible and most wrath-
ful. You should recite it once, and the recipient will rejoice, constantly follow
the practitioner, and think protectively of him. The mantra is: Namaḥ samanta-
vajrāṇāṃ, traṭ amoghacaṇḍamahāroṣaṇa sphoṭaya hūṃ tramaya tramaya163
hūṃ traṭ hāṃ māṃ. (Homage to all Vajras! Traṭ, O infallible, violent, and most
wrathful one! rend asunder! hūṃ! confuse, confuse! hūṃ traṭ hāṃ māṃ!) [305]
Having finished eating, rest for a short while, and then you should again
worship the buddhas and repent of your sins in order to purify your mind.

246
 Fascicle Seven

Cultivate regular actions in this manner, as well as reading the scriptures

aloud as before, and always dwell thus. So too is it [done] in the latter part
of the day.
In the first watch and final watch of the night think uninterruptedly of
the Great Vehicle. On reaching the middle watch of the night, don adaman-
tine armor with the action-vajra164 as before and pay reverence to all the
buddhas and great bodhisattvas. Then you should make offerings with the
mind according to the rules and form this thought: “Because I seek after the
causes and conditions of the most important thing (i.e., enlightenment) for
the sake of all beings, I shall sleep for a short while out of solicitude for this 54b
body. It is not because of craving for the pleasures of sleep.” First you should
arrange your physical posture and lie down on your right side with both feet
placed one on top of the other. Should your limbs become tired, you may
turn over as you please without offense. In order to make yourself wake up
quickly, you should always fix your mind on something bright.165 Moreover,
you should not lie down on a bed.
Next, on other days too practice in this manner. The mantrin, by not
neglecting the rules and practicing diligently without interruption, gains the
designation of one who cultivates bodhisattva practices via the gateway of
mantras. If, in rites of recitation with the number [of recitations], times, man-
ifestation of signs, and so on [specified], you perform the preliminary expe-
dient means and practice in full the special actions, but are nonetheless unsuc-
cessful, you should admonish yourself and redouble your efforts; do not
engender thoughts of inferiority and say, “This method is not suitable for
me.” In this manner you develop willpower, benefit yourself and benefit oth-
ers, and never spend your time in vain. Because the practitioner is assidu-
ous and never rests, the holy ones mystically illuminate his mind, where-
upon he experiences the establishment of awesome divinity and gains freedom
from obstacles.
In this there are two things that you should not forsake. Namely, you
should not forsake the buddhas and bodhisattvas, nor the thought of bring-
ing benefit to inexhaustible beings. Your mind never wavers in its wish for
omniscience, and for this reason you will most certainly achieve the appro-
priate siddhi.

247
 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

Always rely on internal rites to bathe;

you should not be attached to rites for external purification.
Harbor doubts about food that has been touched and so on:
no such [food] should be considered.
If it is for maintaining the body,
bathe at any time to remove grime,
In a river current and so on according to the ritual instructions
and in conjunction with mantras and seals.
With the heart[-syllable] of the Dharma realm purify the waters
and use Acala and Trailokyavijaya as appropriate,
Protecting the [four] quarters and so on with their mantras and seals,
and dwell in meditation on the own-nature of your deity.
Then you should mantrify clean earth three times
and constantly engage singlemindedly in right thinking.
Keeping in mind the holy one Acala’s mantra and so on,
the wise person should bathe in silence.

The heart[-syllable] of the pure Dharma realm and Acalanātha’s seed

[heart-mantra] and sword seal are all as previously explained. The seed heart[-
mantra] of Trailokyavijaya is: Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, haḥ. (Homage to
all Vajras! Haḥ!) [306]
The principle behind the sound of the letter-gateway Ha here is as
explained earlier;
A slight difference is that it signifies the aspect of purification.
In the ritual for the bodily mystic [seal] of the honored one
Trailokyavijaya
54c You should use the five-wisdom vajra seal for accomplishing [all]
deeds.166

Next, the mantra of Trailokyavijaya is: Namaḥ samantavajrāṇāṃ, ha

ha ha vismaye sarvatathāgataviṣayasaṃbhava trailokyavijaya hūṃ jaḥ svāhā.
[307 = 64]

Having thus bathed and sprinkled [water on yourself] for purification,

and endowed with the samaya [seals], protect [all] parts of your
body;

248
 Fascicle Seven

Think of the inexhaustible multitudes of holy divinities

and, thrice taking scoops of water, offer it to them.
In order to purify your body and mind and benefit others,
pay reverence to the Tathāgatas and sons born of the Jina,
And far removed from the differentiation of the three poisons and so on,
and with your sense organs disciplined, betake yourself to the
meditation chamber.
Alternatively, follow a different expedient means for the water
chamber,167
the mind dwelling in accordance with the earlier rules of restraint,
And make your own three equals the measure
for seeking higher, middling, and lower rites.168
When the practitioner performs recitation in this manner,
the entire stream of his sins will cease for ever,
He will most certainly succeed in destroying obstacles,
and the state of omniscience will gather in his person.
He bases himself on Chapter [V] “Mundane Accomplishment”
or on explanations in other sutras,
And the elements of worship and sundry expedient means
are practiced in accordance with their procedures.
Because he is not yet free from the characteristics of the conditioned,
this is called mundane siddhi.
Next the most excellent, that without characteristics, is explained,
observed by those endowed with faith-and-understanding.
If someone with profound wisdom concerning the Mantra Vehicle
seeks after the unsurpassed result in this life,
He should practice contemplation according to his faith-and-under-
standing,
as in the earlier rules for mental worship
And basing himself on the yoga rites
in Chapter [VI] “The Manifestation of Siddhi” and Chapter [XXX]
“[Mundane and] Supramundane [Recitation].”
In the state of truth, of dependent arising,
his inner mind with the limbs [of recitation] will be free from
objects of cognition,

249
 The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra

And experiencing and practicing on the basis of this expedient means,

he will always gain supramundane accomplishments.

As is said in an udāna verse that has been taught:

The Dharma without [differentiating] characteristics, most profound,

is unsuitable for those of inferior intelligence.
In order to cater for them there also exists the teaching of that which
has [differentiating] characteristics.

The above ritual of worship from the Scripture of the Enlightenment,

Supernatural Transformations, and Empowerment of Mahāvairocana, col-
lected by the ācārya, ends herewith. The transmitter is quite satisfied with
it. Moreover, out of a desire to reduce its volume, duplicated mantras have
55a been deleted; they are to be transposed and used [as appropriate]. The prac-
titioner should simply combine the meaning of the passages before and after
[to determine the omitted mantras].169
[End of] Fascicle Seven of the Scripture of the
Enlightenment, Supernatural Transformations,
and Empowerment of Mahāvairocana

250
 Notes

1
Although the Tibetan translation of this final phrase is of similar import to the Chi-
nese, and both the Chinese and Tibetan commentaries support this reading, it is to
be surmised that the intended meaning of the original was that the Bhagavān sat on
a lion throne in the guise of a bodhisattva even though he was a Tathāgata.
2
Strictly speaking, the Sanskrit equivalent of “Lord of Mysteries” (guhyakādhipati)
means “Lord (or Master) of Secret Ones,” the “secret ones” (guhyaka) being a class
of demigods whose leader is Vajrapāṇi. But because in the Chinese commentary this
designation is interpreted in connection with the three mysteries of body, speech, and
mind and Vajrapāṇi is said to bear this title because “he is lord of the mystery of the
mind,” the translation “Lord of Mysteries” has been adopted. In addition, it should be
noted that the reconstructions of the Sanskrit names of the vajradharas are for the
most part tentative, and they have been variously reconstructed by different scholars.
3
Among the twenty-nine erroneous views of the self listed here, “the measure of man”
corresponds to puruṣa (“[primeval] man” or “spirit”), “the completely adorned” to
either prabhu or vibhu (“lord”), and “life-force” to jīva (“life [principle]” or “soul”);
“mind-born” (manoja) is a common mistranslation of manuja (“born from Manu”),
while “youngster” (māṇava) is a mistranslation of mānava (“descended from Manu”);
and jñatvam should possibly read jñātavya (“that which is to be known”).
4
The six days of abstinence are the eighth, fourteenth, fifteenth, twenty-third, twenty-
ninth, and thirtieth days of each month.
5
Many of the names of gods both here and elsewhere in the text are accompanied by the
word “god” (deva), but hereafter this has generally been omitted in the translation.
6
In the Tibetan translation the eighth stage is called “that which has become strength,”
presumably meaning that the fruit of the previous stage, which, according to the
Tibetan translation, was ingested to provide nourishment, has been converted into
physical strength. This sits better with the extended analogy of a seed, and it would
suggest that there was some scribal confusion between bala (“strength”) and bāla
(“[male] child”).
7
Added on the basis of the Tibetan translation and Chinese commentary.
8
Added on the basis of the Tibetan translation and Chinese commentary. After this
“mind of mud,” the Tibetan translation adds “mind of mire.”
9
Because the Chinese text lists only fifty-nine minds (having omitted the “mind of
mire” mentioned in the Tibetan translation), the Chinese commentary adds a sixti-
eth, “mind of the monkey.”

251
Notes

10
According to the Chinese commentary, it is the five basic mental afflictions—greed,
anger, stupidity, pride, and doubt—that are doubled five times to give a total of one
hundred and sixty minds (5 x 2 = 10, 10 x 2 = 20, 20 x 2 = 40, 40 x 2 = 80, and 80 x
2 = 160). Buddhaguhya, on the other hand, presents a complicated system of calcu-
lation to derive the one hundred and sixty minds from the sixty minds that have just
been described.
11
In the Chinese translation kalpa (“eon”) has been interpreted as vikalpa (“[false] dis-
crimination”), and according to the Chinese commentary, “transcending the mun-
dane three false attachments” means to eradicate three levels of attachment (gross,
subtle, and very subtle). According to the Tibetan translation, on the other hand, “the
one hundred and sixty mundane minds are transcended in three eons.”
12
According to the Chinese commentary, the “eight minds compatible [with the world]”
are the eight stages through which an ordinary person passes, described earlier, while
the “eight minds incompatible [with the world]” are eight further stages leading up
to the pulling out of the stumps of karma and mental afflictions and the seeds of igno-
rance mentioned just above.
13
According to the Chinese commentary, the “three minds” correspond to the minds
of the cause (hetu), root (mūla), and culmination ( paryavasāna).
14
The Chinese commentary explains the “ten minds” with reference to ten minds men-
tioned in the Avataṃsaka-sūtra and also in terms of the eight stages mentioned ear-
lier.
15
I.e., one further quarter of an eon is needed to reach full enlightenment.
16
Or possibly “rapids” or “the confluence of a river.”
17
Other versions of this mantra have samantānugate (“all-pervading one!”) for samatā-
nugate, while the Tibetan has gaganasamatānugate (“attained equality with the sky!”)
for gaganasame samatānugate. Throughout the text there are many discrepancies,
usually minor, between the mantras given in the Chinese and Tibetan translations,
but these differences have generally not been noted.
18
The Tibetan translation and Buddhaguhya’s commentary imply that Vairocana wears
a crown on top of his topknot, but according to the Chinese commentary his topknot
resembles a crown, and the corresponding phrase ( jaṭā-mukuṭa) has been translated
in this latter sense throughout. Iconographical evidence suggests that both interpre-
tations were current in India.
19
According to the Chinese commentary, this refers to an area between Acalanātha and
Trailokyavijaya (to the west of the central deity).
20
“Most excellent vow” corresponds to Sanskrit vara, which can mean either “(most)
excellent” or “request, gift,” and here means simply “excellent” and qualifies “path.”
In the Chinese translation its two meanings are often conflated as “(most) excellent
vow,” but hereafter when the Sanskrit or the Tibetan indicates that the sense of “vow”
is out of place, it has usually been translated simply as “(most) excellent.”
21
The designations “initial quarter,” etc., for the four directions are literal translations
of the Sanskrit equivalents.

252
 Notes

22
This possibly refers to a path for circumambulation.
23
Also aṅgula. A unit of measurement equal to a finger’s breadth and sometimes ren-
dered in the Chinese as “finger” or “phalanx.”
24
Or possibly, following the Tibetan “sign of the buddhas,” “seal of all omniscient
ones.”
25
Or possibly an ear of millet (priyaṅgu).
26
Or, judging from the Tibetan translation and according to Buddhaguhya, Pāṇḍara-
vāsinī.
27
The text has vidyādhararāja (“king of spell-holders”).
28
Following the Chinese commentary, this could also be taken to mean that it is the
vajra that “gives out blazing light all around.”
29
The Tibetan translation and extant exemplars of the maṇḍala would suggest that “ini-
tial quarter” here refers to the northern quarter rather than to the eastern quarter.
30
The Chinese has “Gemmed Palm,” which suggests Ratnakara (cf. note 99).
31
According to the Chinese commentary, Indra composed a grammatical treatise in
which he incorporated multiple meanings into a single syllable.
32
Presumably phaṭ + aka, with -aka being a common suffix. “Phaṭaka” would then
mean something like “[a mantra] with [the word] phaṭ.”
33
The Chinese equivalent musu usually refers to Medicago sativa (lucerne), but it is
also used as a translation of Sanskrit spṛkkā (Trigonella corniculata).
34
Sanskrit anusvāra: a small circle or dot that is placed over a letter to indicate nasal-
ization of the vowel. Because it symbolizes emptiness, in Chinese it is usually ren-
dered as “(great) dot of emptiness.”
35
Sanskrit hasta: a unit of measurement equal to the distance from the elbow to the tip
of the middle finger, and corresponding to a cubit.
36
The text reads ºvigatebhyaḥ. Hereafter irregularities regarding sandhi, etc., in the
Chinese transcriptions of mantras have been emended without further comment.
37
The text has vidyādhara, which the Chinese commentary here equates with dhāraṇī.
38
Or possibly tathāgatacakṣu[r]vyavalokāya (“for the sake of beholding with the Tathā-
gata’s eye”).
39
Or possibly ararakararabaliṃ. The meaning of arara and kalala/karara is unclear.
40
Added on the basis of the Tibetan translation and Chinese commentary.
41
Here and below there are discrepancies between the Chinese and Tibetan translations
regarding the vowel length of seed-syllables, with the Tibetan here having trāṃ and
rāṃ for traṃ and raṃ. Since the Chinese transcriptions do not always indicate vowel
length, it is possible that in the present instance these two seed-syllables should be
read with long vowels. But in doubtful cases such as these I have generally followed
the Chinese transcription as it stands unless the lengthening of the vowel is specifi-
cally mentioned in the Chinese commentary.
42
Or possibly “you who are gazed upon by all Tathāgatas.”

253
Notes

43
So interpreted in the Chinese commentary, with aśani being taken as a derivative of
the verb ṇaś (“to eat”) rather than in its usual sense of “thunderbolt” or “lightning.”
44
In the Tibetan translation it is called the mantra of “all bodhisattvas,” as it is also in
Chapter IV of Fascicle Seven (p. 262).
45
“Jewel-in-Palm.” This could be either an error for Ratnākara (cf. note 30) or an alter-
native translation for Ratnapāṇi (Jewel-in-Hand); the Tibetan translation has Ratna-
pāṇi.
46
The Tibetan translation has bha, but here and elsewhere I have followed the Chinese
commentary in adding the visarga to Śākyamuni’s seed-syllable.
47
The text reads ṭraṃ, but the Chinese commentary suggests ṭruṃ, and this is indirectly
supported by the Tibetan translation, which reads hāṃ ṭyaṃ ruṃ.
48
According to the Tibetan translation (which gives the seed-syllable as Aṃ), this is
the mantra of Dhāraṇīpratilabdha.
49
Or possibly vaṃsane.
50
The rites described below are explained in greater detail in the next chapter (p. 89
ff). The “letter,” “sound,” and two “bases” mentioned in the first section constitute
what is known as “four-limbed” (or “four-branched”) recitation, consisting of the
visualization of 1) oneself as a deity (the first “base”), 2) a deity in front (the second
“base”), 3) a lunar disc (“letter,” representing the bodhi-mind) either in the heart of
the deity in front or in one’s own heart, and 4) the letters of the mantra (“sound”)
arranged around the edge of the lunar disc.
51
Cf. note 16.
52
Or, according to a variant reading, “. . . the article of siddhi will be as he wishes”
(which accords better with the Tibetan translation).
53
Existence in the three realms of desire, form, and non-form.
54
The Sanskrit probably read dṛṣṭa eva dharme or dṛṣṭe dharme, which the Chinese
translator has taken literally, but which usually means “in the present life (or world).”
There are several further occurrences of this expression (or variations of it), and they
have been rendered literally into English because the Chinese commentary indicates
that this is how they were interpreted.
55
Or, following the Tibetan translation, “. . . is certified by a venerable [teacher] to
accomplish mantras. . . .”
56
The text reads “because it does not transcend the three ages. . . ,” but I have followed
the Tibetan translation in omitting “not.”
57
The Tibetan transcription has gaganakhaṃ, but the Chinese transcription clearly indi-
cates gaganakaṃ (although the word gaganaka is not found in the standard diction-
aries).
58
This would seem to contradict the above reference to “one entrance,” which has been
interpreted by some to mean “one entrance in each of the four quarters,” although in
the Chinese commentary it is stated only that the position of the entrance depends
on the type of rite to be performed, and there is no mention of four entrances.
59
Some variants and the Tibetan translation have “cause” for “result.”

254
 Translator’s Introduction

60
Some versions of this mantra have vīra (“hero”) for vi ra, and it has been suggested
that this is a reference to Vairocana.
61
Mahendra refers to the square shape, yellow in color, that is associated with the let-
ter A and with the earth element. It is also referred to below as the “vajra maṇḍala/cir-
cle,” although it is not circular in shape.
62
According to the Chinese commentary, “crown” refers to the tip of the vajra, but I
have followed Buddhaguhya’s interpretation.
63
The text has “according to yoga,” but this is a literal translation of yathā-
yogam/yathāyogena, meaning “as is fit, according to circumstances.”
64
The Sanskrit equivalent of “cause” is hetu, the word most commonly associated with
the letter Ha. Cf. pp. 51 and 204.
65
The Tibetan translation has “snow” for “lightning,” and “lightning” (dian) may pos-
sibly be a scribal error for “snow” (xue).
66
The base text has “King of Nectar,” but the variant reading “Born of Nectar” is sup-
ported by the Tibetan translation and Chinese commentary.
67
See note 22.
68
Added from the Tibetan translation.
69
The Chinese transliteration suggests ba (or possibly ma), but because va and ba are
easily confused in Sanskrit, it should in this instance probably be interpreted as va.
70
Variants and the Chinese commentary have Pa(ḥ), while the Tibetan translation has
Ga. The seed-syllables in this section as given in the Tibetan translation differ from
those given in the Chinese translation.
71
Initiation rites similar to the following are described in greater detail in Chapter II
(p. 53 ff).
72
That is, he gives them each a flower to cast onto the maṇḍala.
73
According to the Chinese commentary, the “three dharmas” are a deity’s body, mantra,
and seal; according to Buddhaguhya, on the other hand, they are the body, speech,
and mind of the Tathāgata, or the three bodies.
74
In the Chinese translation the left and right hands are usually referred to as
“samādhi/meditation (hand)” and “prajñā/wisdom (hand)” respectively, while the
five fingers are associated with the five elements and called “earth (circle)” (little
finger), “water (circle)” (ring finger), “fire (circle)” (middle finger), “wind (circle)”
(forefinger), and “(empty) space (circle)” (thumb).
75
According to the Tibetan translation and Chinese commentary, the forefingers press
down on top of the thumbs, which are bent slightly forward: the positions of the
thumbs and forefingers are thus the opposite of those suggested by the text. With
regard to other seals too described in this chapter, there are discrepancies between
the Chinese and Tibetan translations and the Chinese commentary (Buddhaguhya
generally does not comment on the seals themselves), but these have not been noted.
76
The text has “lotus flower of the auspicious vow” (or “auspicious lotus flower of the
vow”), but it is evident from the Tibetan translation that “vow” is an abbreviation of

255
Notes

“excellent vow,” corresponding to vara, and it has therefore been translated as “excel-
lent.” Cf. note 20.
77
Ūrṇākośa refers to the circle of hair between the eyebrows of a buddha and is counted
as one of the thirty-two chief distinguishing marks of a buddha.
78
The mantra for this seal is missing in the Chinese translation, but it is given in the
Tibetan translation: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, pracaṇḍavajrajvāla visphura hūṃ
(cf. mantra 18).
79
Or possibly “great source of manifold knowledge!”
80
ºvācaṃ samatāprāpta would seem to be corrupt and differs considerably from the
Tibetan transcription (which is also problematic).
81
In light of the Tibetan transcription and also the following mantra, dayājñānaṃ should
perhaps be regarded as a corruption of chedayājñānaṃ (“sever ignorance!”).
82
The text has ratnanirjita (“O you who have been conquered by a jewel!”) for ratna-
nirjāta, but the Chinese commentary interprets it in the sense of ratnanirjāta, and
the Tibetan transcription has ratnanirjāte.
83
There appears to be some confusion in the Chinese translation regarding the follow-
ing group of seals and mantras for the attendants of Ākāśagarbha. According to the
Tibetan translation, this first seal and mantra are for Ākāśagarbha, which would seem
logical, since the other groups of seals and mantras are headed by the seal and mantra
of the chief deity of the group. Meanwhile, the seal and mantra assigned below to Sthi-
ramati are, according to the Tibetan translation, those of Gaganāmala, and these are
in the Tibetan translation followed by a seal and mantra for Sthiramati not given in
the Chinese translation; the mantra is: Namaḥ samantabuddhānāṃ, vajrakāra svāhā.
84
According to the Tibetan translation and Chinese commentary, this is the seal of Dur-
dharṣa, which is also corroborated by the mantra.
85
The subject of the initial verb “produce” is not specified in the text, but according to
the Chinese commentary it is the letter A.
86
According to the Chinese commentary, the vajra circle is square and yellow (cf. note
61), the water circle circular and white, the fire circle triangular and red, and the wind
circle semilunar and black, and they are associated with the letters A, Va, Ra, and Ha
respectively.
87
The text has vidyādhararāja (cf. note 27). The vidyārāja here alluded to corresponds
to mantra 247.
88
The “three actions” are the three rites (śāntika, pauṣṭika, and ābhicāruka) and also,
according to the Chinese commentary, the actions of body, speech, and mind.
89
According to the Chinese commentary, the “three loci” are one’s own person, the
object of contemplation, and the time of accomplishment (or the connection between
subject and object).
90
Usually, passion (rāga), hatred (dveṣa), and bewilderment (moha), but according to the
Chinese commentary the “three faults” correspond to the faults committed by body,
speech, and mind.

256
 Notes

91
Although the Chinese commentary interprets “mystic seals” in the sense of hand
gestures (mudrās), in light of the description of the maṇḍala given below and
Buddhaguhya’s comments it should probably be taken in the sense of symbolic objects.
92
Mantra 247.
93
The text reads “. . . attendants who have entered the maṇḍala,” but I have adopted
the variant reading ba (“eight”) for ru (“enter”), which is also supported by the Tibetan
translation.
94
The text has vidyādhararāja(s). Cf. note 27.
95
The text has dafen (*Mahākrodha), but judging from the Chinese commentary and
Tibetan translation (skal chen), the character fen (“anger”) is probably an error for
the homophonous fen (“portion”).
96
According to the Chinese commentary, his physical form, his symbolic seal, and his
seed-syllable.
97
Lit., “with four exits,” but judging from the Chinese commentary this seems to refer
to a crossed vajra.
98
Eight uṣṇīṣas are actually listed.
99
The Chinese has “Gemmed Doer,” which suggests Ratnakara. For Ratnapāṇi, who
follows, the Chinese has “Gemmed Palm,” which again suggests Ratnakara but else-
where refers to Ratnākara (cf. note 30).
100
The “twelve component syllables” refers to mantra 247, and according to the Chi-
nese commentary the syllables are visualized by the ācārya on the person of the dis-
ciple.
101
“Equality” is one of the four meanings ascribed to the word samaya in the Chinese
commentary, presumably because of a supposed link with the word sama (“equal”),
to which it is not, however, directly connected etymologically.
102
The “eight special qualities” are the qualities that make water pure, cool, good-tasting
or sweet, soft or smooth, moistening, comforting, thirst-quenching, and nourishing.
103
On these terms see note 3.
104
According to the Chinese commentary, the maṇḍala is blue and surrounded by white
dots; that it is the maṇḍala, rather than the dots, that should be blue is also indicated
by the Tibetan translation.
105
Although the text reads “. . . the mantra teachings explained,” both the Chinese com-
mentary and the Tibetan translation would suggest that “teaching” (jiao) may be a
scribal error for “number” (shu).
106
Or, if one takes jin as an abbreviation of jingang, “vajra/adamantine circle,” which
in the Chinese commentary is explained as a square maṇḍala yellow in color.
107
The text has saṃbodhi, but the context as well as the Tibetan translation and Chinese
commentary would suggest that saṃbuddha is meant.
108
According to the Chinese commentary, “limbs” refers to the various parts of the body,
while according to the Tibetan commentary it refers to the letters of the Sanskrit
alphabet starting with Ka.

257
Notes

109
According to the Chinese commentary, “augmented letters” refers to the twelve vowel
signs for i, ī, u, ū, ṛ, ṝ, ḷ, ḹ, e, ai, o, and au. The Tibetan translation has simply “letters,”
and according to the Tibetan commentary these are again the letters starting with Ka.
110
Here and below “limbs” clearly refers to the various parts of the body. The actual
allocation of the letters is explained in the next chapter.
111
Lit., “always bathing” (= snātaka).
112
“Wealthy” possibly corresponds to prabhu, which means “mighty, rich” or “master,
lord” and is also applied to various gods.
113
According to the Chinese commentary, this corresponds to the top of the cranium.
114
According to the Chinese commentary, this pervades all parts of the body.
115
The text has “precept of meaningless speech,” but the word “precept” is out of place.
116
Although this line might also be translated as “. . . other bases of training which are
divorced from expedient means and knowledge,” it has been translated in light of the
original Sanskrit of this verse as quoted in the Tattvasiddhi.
117
According to the Chinese commentary, the hundred letters consist of the twenty-five
letters making up the five members of each of the five series of consonants in the
Sanskrit alphabet, each of which takes four forms, thus resulting in one hundred let-
ters. The five series of consonants are the gutturals or velars (ka, kha, ga, gha, and
ṅa), the palatals (ca, cha, ja, jha, and ña), the cerebrals or retroflexes (ṭa, ṭha, ḍa,
ḍha, and ṇa), the dentals (ta, tha, da, dha, and na), and the labials (pa, pha, ba, bha,
and ma), and each of these twenty-five letters takes the following four forms: short
(-a), long (-ā), aspirated (-aḥ), and nasalized (-aṃ). These hundred letters are all said
to be encapsulated in the letter Aṃ, which is the actual focus of this and the follow-
ing four chapters.
118
According to the Chinese commentary, the “three dharmas” are principle, practice,
and result. The “three samayas” can refer to the equality of body, speech, and mind,
but see also Chapter XXV.
119
Or possibly “All these states of the Unsurpassedly Awakened One of (i.e., realized
by) the Striving Hero(es).”
120
The text has saṃbodhi; cf. note 107.
121
According to the Chinese commentary, this is an allusion to the different kinds of
emptiness, given variously as sixteen or eighteen in number.
122
The Tibetan translation has “ineffability,” which better fits the standard association
of the letter Va with vāc (“speech”).
123
See note 101.
124
The text has saṃbodhi; cf. note 107.
125
Tibetan: Bharata. “Pitara” may possibly be related to pitaraḥ (“[fore]fathers”).
126
According to the Tibetan translation, Atharvaṇa was “famed (*prathita) in the ocean (-
uda),” which, according to Buddhaguhya, was called Puṣkara (Puṣkaroda), and there-
fore the reference to Prathita and Puṣkaroda in the Chinese translation as the names of
two of Agni’s descendants is possibly the result of a misreading of the original Sanskrit.

258
 Notes

127
Tibetan: Pavamāna.
128
Probably a corruption of Sabhya.
129
For Āhavanīya?
130
For Vivici?
131
Only forty fires are actually mentioned.
132
In the Tibetan translation Kravyāda is the eleventh fire (although not explicitly iden-
tified as such), while the tenth fire is called World-supporter, and this would suggest
that it may possibly have been the tenth fire that was actually missing in the Sanskrit
text on which the Chinese translation is based.
133
According to the Chinese commentary, the “three places,” or three principal agents
of the homa ritual, are the deity, the fire, and the officiant, which together form a sin-
gle entity; Buddhaguhya interprets them as the officiant, the fire, and the materials.
134
There follows a passage in prose, which is however clearly redundant since its con-
tent is repeated at the start of the following verses: “Then Vajrapāṇi said to the Buddha,
‘World-honored One, what is the samādhi for the fire hearth? How does one employ
sprinkling? How does one spread the auspicious grass properly? How does one pro-
vide the associated materials? When he had finished speaking thus. . . .”
135
Here and below the equivalent of both “characteristic” and “concept[ualized]” in the
original Sanskrit of this passage (preserved in the Pradīpoddyotana) is nimitta. Judg-
ing from the Tibetan translation, this was probably also the case in the following
chapter.
136
A reference to four-limbed recitation (see note 50).
137
Lakṣa means “one hundred thousand” and refers to the number of recitations, but in
the Chinese commentary it is taken in the sense of lakṣaṇa (“mark, characteristic”)
and said to refer to the attributes of body, speech, and mind which, once purified,
lead to the removal of sins.
138
The Tibetan transliteration has traṃ and dharaṃ for triṃ and dhariṃ, and it also has
buddhasatyavāg dharmasatyavāk saṅghasatyavāg (“true speech of the Buddha, true
speech of the Dharma, [and] true speech of the Sangha”) for buddhasatya vā dhar-
masatya vā saṅghasatya vā.
139
As was noted in the Introduction, Fascicle Seven is a ritual manual which was not
originally part of the Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi-sūtra, and this is why the chapter num-
bers in this last fascicle start again from “I.” Strictly speaking, “Procedural Rules for
Worship” is the title of this entire final section, while “The Code of Training for
Mantra Practice” is the title of the first chapter.
140
In what appears to be a dittographic error, the passage “the exposition of their teach-
ings . . with respect” is repeated in the Chinese translation.
141
Giving, kind speech, beneficial action, and cooperation (elsewhere referred to as the
“four means of conversion”).
142
The Tibetan translation would suggest that wangnian (“delusion”) is a scribal error
for the homophonous wangnian (“forgetfulness”).

259
Notes

143
According to the Chinese commentary, this means lying down on one’s right side
with one’s right arm for a pillow and one’s left arm stretched out on top of one’s thigh
(cf. p. 273).
144
The original Sanskrit (with which the Chinese translation does not tally exactly) is
preserved in transliteration in the Tibetan translation.
145
Several variants have “trees” for “pillars,” but the latter reading is supported by both
the Chinese commentary and the Tibetan translation.
146
Variants have traka for traṭ, but the Tibetan translation has traṭ.
147
Paramavajrajvālānala? The Tibetan translation has Paramāśva.
148
Samantabuddhānāṃ should probably be emended to samantavajrāṇāṃ, as in the
Tibetan translation.
149
The Tibetan translation adds the proviso “if he does not have incense and so on.”
150
The subject of these verses, while not clear, would seem to be the Dharma. In the
Sanskrit versions (see note 151), on the other hand, the subject, though unspecified,
is plural, and it may be assumed that the verses are a eulogy to the buddhas, etc.
151
Slightly differing versions of the original Sanskrit are preserved in the Sarvadur-
gatipariśodhana-tantra, Sādhanamālā, Taishō no. 852 (Chinese transcription), and
Peking no. 134 (Tibetan transliteration).
152
I.e., four-limbed recitation (see note 50).
153
I.e., the hundred letters alluded to in Chapter XIX infra.
154
Some variants have “harm” for “caves,” and the Tibetan translation has “city.”
155
Cf. Chapter V (pp. 81–2) and Chapter VI (pp. 89–90).
156
Chapter III of Fascicle Seven gives the mantras for Vaṃ, Haṃ, and A. In the Tibetan
translation, the mantras are inserted in the appropriate places in the foregoing verses.
157
See note 21.
158
Svastikāsana, which, according to the Chinese commentary, refers to the half-lotus
posture with the right leg placed on the left thigh.
159
Bhadrāsana, which, according to the Chinese commentary, means to sit on one’s
haunches (with the legs drawn up in front of one’s body).
160
According to the Chinese commentary, the “three situations” are pacifying calami-
ties, increasing benefits, and subjugation.
161
Vajrabodhi’s translation and the Tibetan translation give the mantra as follows: Namaḥ
samantabuddhānāṃ, oṃ vaṃ/vi svāhā. The Tibetan translation has “Action (Karma)-
Vajrasattva” for “action-vajra,” and this too is supported by Vajrabodhi’s translation.
162
Or possibly balaṃ dade (“I give power”). Alternatively, juding from the Tibetan
transliteration, it should possibly read baliṃ dade (“I give a food offering”).
163
For trapaya trapaya?
164
See note 161.
165
The Chinese commentary interprets ming in the sense of vidyā, but both the Tibetan
translation and Vajrabodhi’s translation indicate that it here means “brightness” or
“light.”

260
 Notes

166
The seal described after mantra 284 (p. 251).
167
Judging from Vajrabodhi’s translation, this seems to refer to recitation performed in
water.
168
According to the Chinese commentary, the “three equals” are the “three mysteries,”
but the Tibetan translation has “neck, chest, navel, and waist,” while Vajrabodhi’s
translation states that when performing recitation in water, higher, middling, and
lower success depend on whether the water reaches the top of one’s head, one’s waist,
or one’s knees.
169
Several manuscripts, including the base text, follow with five characters represent-
ing transcriptions of Sanskrit sounds and brief comments on the pronunciation of
Chinese transcriptions of Sanskrit, but they do not belong to the text.

261
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Fesyun, A. G. “Sutra Makhavayrochany o stanovlenii Buddoy chudesnymi izmeneniyami

privnosimogo i imeyushchegosya” (perevod Shubkhakarasimkha). Pazdel 1—“O
prebybaniyakh serdtsa pri vkhozhdenii vo brata mantr.” Moscow: Serebryanye
Niti, 2003.
—. “Raz yasneniya k Sutre Makhavayrochany o stanovlenii Buddoy chudesnymi izme-
neniyami privnosimogo i imeyushchegosya.” Svitok 1 (sostavil I-Sin). Moscow:
Serebryanye Niti, 2003.

Gibson, Morgan, and Hiroshi Murakami. Tantric Poetry of Kūkai (Kōbō Daishi), Japan’s
Buddhist Saint, with Excerpts from The Mahāvairocana Sūtra and I-Hsing’s Com-
mentary. Bangkok: Mahachulalongkorn University, 1982.

Hodge, Stephen, trans. The Mahā-Vairocana-Abhisaṃbodhi Tantra with Buddhaguhya’s

Commentary. London: RoutledgeCurzon, 2003.

Hopkins, Jeffrey, trans. and ed. The Yoga of Tibet—The Great Exposition of Secret
Mantra: 2 and 3. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1981.

Kiyota, Minoru. Tantric Concept of Bodhicitta: A Buddhist Experiential Philosophy.

Madison, WI: South Asian Area Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1982.

Müller, Wilhelm Kuno. Shingon-Mysticism: Śubhākarasiṁha and I-hsing’s Commen-

tary to the Mahāvairocana-sūtra, Chapter One—An Annotated Translation. Ph.D.
dissertation, University of California Los Angeles, 1976.

Tajima, R. Étude sur le Mahāvairocana-sūtra (Dainichikyō). Paris: Adrien Maison-

neuve, 1936.

Wayman, Alex, and R. Tajima. The Enlightenment of Vairocana. Buddhist Tradition

Series, Vol. 18. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1992.

Yamamoto, Chikyo, trans. Mahāvairocana-sūtra. Śata-piṭaka Series, Vol. 359. New

Delhi: International Academy of Indian Culture and Aditya Prakashan, 1990.

263
 Glossary

ācārya: A teacher or master, especially one versed in Tantric Buddhism.

argha: The act of respectfully receiving a guest (or deity) with various offerings; it can
also refer to the offerings themselves, especially water (arghya).

asura: A demigod, in perpetual conflict with gods (deva).

bhūta: A spirit or demon.

bodhi: Spiritual awakening or enlightenment.

bodhi-mind (bodhicitta): Aspiration for enlightenment; also, the mind (citta) identical
with enlightenment (bodhi).

bodhisattva (“enlightenment being”): One who has engendered the aspiration to achieve
enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings. The spiritual ideal of the Mahayana.
See also bodhi-mind; Mahayana.

ḍākinī: A type of female demon said to feed on human flesh.

dhāraṇī: Originally, the ability to comprehend and retain the Buddhist teachings. It also
came to refer to special verbal formulae believed to encapsulate the essence of the
teachings and have great power. See also mantra; vidyā.

dharma: Element of existence in a broad sense, including material/physical and imma-

terial/mental phenomena; (good) quality.

Dharma: The teaching or doctrine; ultimate truth or reality.

Dharma body (dharmakāya): One of the three bodies of a buddha, equated with ulti-
mate reality. See also three bodies.

Dharma realm (dharmadhātu): Literally, the objects (dharmas) of the mind in general.
It also refers to the entire universe, or the fundamental reality underlying the phe-
nomenal world.

dhyāna: Meditation or contemplation.

265
Glossary

eighteen elements (aṣṭādaśa dhātavaḥ): The twelve sense fields and six consciousnesses,
which together represent the constituent elements of existence. See also six con-
sciousnesses; twelve sense fields.

faith-and-understanding (adhimukti): The standard Chinese rendition of adhimukti, refer-

ring to religious conviction.

five aggregates (pañcaskandha): The five constituent elements of individual existence—

1) form (rūpa), 2) perception (vedanā), 3) ideation (samjñā), 4) volition (saṃskāra),
and 5) consciousness (vijñāna).

five desires (pañcakāma): The five desires that arise through contact with the five sense
objects (form, sound, smell, taste, and tangible objects). See also six sense objects.

five supernatural faculties (pañcābhijñā): Five supernatural powers—1) supernatural

vision, 2) supernatural hearing, 3) the ability to know others’ thoughts, 4) the abil-
ity to know former lives, and 5) the ability to perform miracles such as appearing
anywhere at will.

four Brahmic abodes (catvāro brahmavihārāḥ): Four states of meditation, also known
as the “four immeasurables” (catvāry apramāṇāni) and characterized by 1) kind-
ness (maitrī), 2) compassion (karuṇā), 3) sympathetic joy (muditā), and 4) equa-
nimity (upekṣā).

four demons (caturmāra): Four causes of suffering and obstacles to practice—1) men-
tal afflictions, 2) five aggregates, 3) death, and 4) the king of demons (Pāpīyas) in
the Paranirmitavaśavartin Heaven.

four means of conversion (catvāri saṃgrahavastūni): 1) giving, 2) kind speech, 3) benefi-

cial action, and 4) cooperation.

gandharva: A class of heavenly beings, famed for their musical skills.

garuḍa: A type of mythical bird.

homa: A burnt offering; the act of making oblations to a deity by casting offerings of
grain, etc., into a fire. The actual performance of such a ritual is called “external
homa,” while the accompanying meditation to extinguish mental afflictions, etc.,
is called “internal homa.”

Jina: Literally, “victor”; a designation for a Buddha.

kiṃnara: A class of heavenly beings, often associated with music.

koṭi: A large number, a crore.

lakṣa: One hundred thousand.

266
 Glossary

Lord of Mysteries ( guhyakādhipati): An epithet of Vajrapāṇi. The Sanskrit might be

more literally rendered as “Lord (or Master) of Secret Ones,” the “secret ones”
(guhyaka) being a class of demigods whose leader is Vajrapāṇi. See also Vajrapāṇi.

Mahāvairocana: A designation of the chief deity in Tantric Buddhism, corresponding to

the Dharma body and to be distinguished from Vairocana (although the two are
sometimes used interchangeably). When the Chinese translation of the Vairo-
canābhisaṃbodhi-sūtra has “Dari,” which can be taken in either sense, it has gen-
erally been rendered in light of the Tibetan translation. See also Dharma body;
Tantric Buddhism; Vairocana.

Mahayana (“Great Vehicle”): A form of Buddhism that developed in India around 100
B.C.E. and which exalts as its religious ideal the bodhisattva. See also bodhisattva.

mahoraga: A type of mythical snake.

maṇḍala (“circle”): In Tantric Buddhism, a square or circular site in which deity images,
etc., are installed for the performance of rituals. In the Chinese translation of the
Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi-sūtra the word maṇḍala is either transliterated or variously
rendered as “circle,” “altar,” or “circular altar.” See also Tantric Buddhism.

mantra: A mystic or incantatory formula used in the rituals of Tantric Buddhism. See
also dhāraṇī; Tantric Buddhism; vidyā.

mantrin: A person who recites mantras and engages in the associated practices.

Māra: The original meaning of the word māra is “death,” and it also came to signify the
personification of death or the Evil One (Māra). In Buddhism four types of māras,
or demons, are distinguished. See also four demons.

mind-king (cittarāja): The mind as opposed to mental functions, which are likened to
retainers attending upon a king.

mudrā (“seal”): Generally, a ritual hand gesture used in the rituals of Tantric Buddhism;
usually rendered in Chinese as “seal.” It can also refer to a symbolic object repre-
senting a deity. See also seal; Tantric Buddhism.

nāga: A class of serpentlike beings; usually rendered in Chinese as “dragon.”

nayuta: A high number.

nirvana: The final goal of Buddhist aspiration and practice, a state in which mental afflic-
tions have been extinguished and the highest wisdom has been attained but the
physical body still remains. See also parinirvāṇa.

parinirvāṇa: Complete nirvana, or the state which a fully enlightened person enters at
death. See also nirvana.

267
Glossary

piśāca: A class of flesh-eating demons.

piśācī: The female counterpart of a piśāca.

pratyekabuddha (“individually enlightened one”): A sage who has attained enlighten-

ment without the guidance of a teacher and who intends neither to guide nor to
teach others.

rākṣasa: A class of malignant demons.

samādhi: A state of focused concentration or mental composure.

samaya: In Tantric Buddhism, the “pledge” of the “coming together” of a deity with the
practitioner, or a symbolic representation of this pledge. See also Tantric Buddhism.

seal: In Chinese Buddhist Tantric texts, either a ritual hand gesture (mudrā) or a sym-
bolic object or insignia (mudrā, cihna) representing a deity. See also mudrā; Tantric
Buddhism.

seed-syllable (bīja): A Sanskrit syllable believed to encapsulate the essence of a deity,

element, etc.

siddhi: “Accomplishment” or “success,” of which many different varieties are enumer-

ated in Tantric scriptures. See also Tantric Buddhism.

six consciousnesses (ṣaḍvijñāna): The consciousnesses that arise from the contact of
each of the six sense organs with their respective objects—1) eye (visual) con-
sciousness, 2) ear (auditory) consciousness, 3) nose (olfactory) consciousness, 4)
tongue (gustatory) consciousness, 5) body (tactile) consciousness, and 6) mind
(mental) consciousness. See also six sense objects; six sense organs.

six destinies (ṣaḍgati): Six states of transmigratory existence—1) hell, 2) hungry ghosts
(preta), 3) animals, 4) demigods (asura), 5) humans, and 6) gods (deva); the first
three are referred to as “evil destinies.”

six pāramitās (ṣaṭpāramitā): Six “perfections” or basic practices of the bodhisattva—

1) giving (dāna), 2) morality or keeping the precepts (śīla), 3) forbearance or patience
(kṣānti), 4) energy or effort (vīrya), 5) meditation (dhyāna), and 6) wisdom (prajñā).
See also bodhisattva.

six sense objects (ṣaḍviṣaya): The objects of perception associated with each of the six
sense organs—1) form (or matter), 2) sound, 3) smell, 4) taste, 5) tangible objects,
and 6) mental objects. See also six consciousnesses; six sense organs.

six sense organs (ṣaḍindriya): 1) eyes, 2) ears, 3) nose, 4) tongue, 5) body, and 6) mind.
See also six consciousnesses; six sense objects.

268
 Glossary

śrāvaka (“listener”): Originally, a disciple of the historical Buddha, one who directly
heard his teachings. Later used as a general term for followers of early Buddhism,
to distinguish them from adherents of Mahayana and Tantric Buddhism. See also
Mahayana; Tantric Buddhism.

Sugata: Literally, “he who has attained happiness” (or “he who has gone well”); a des-
ignation for a Buddha.

Tantric Buddhism: A form of Buddhism that evolved through the blending of the teach-
ings of Mahayana Buddhism with the techniques for realization described in texts
called tantras, involving the extensive use of mantras, mudrās, maṇḍalas, and rit-
ual. In its form as it developed in East Asia in particular, it is often referred to as
Esoteric Buddhism. See also Mahayana; maṇḍala; mantra; mudrā.

Tathāgata: Literally, “he who has thus gone (or come)”; a designation for a Buddha.

ten directions (daśadiś): The four cardinal points, the four intermediate directions, the
zenith, and the nadir; a term used to mean “in all directions,” “everywhere.”

tenfold freedom (daśavaśitā): Ten kinds of supernatural power with which a person seek-
ing enlightenment is said to be endowed—freedom in 1) longevity, 2) mind, 3)
adornments (or possessions), 4) action, 5) birth, 6) liberation (or conviction), 7)
vow, 8) supernatural faculties, 9) the Dharma, and 10) knowledge.

ten powers [of wisdom] (daśa balāni): The ten powers of a Buddha; the powers to 1) dis-
tinguish right and wrong in every situation; 2) recognize the karmic relationships
between all actions in the past, present, and future; 3) understand all stages of medi-
tation, liberation, and concentration; 4) judge the superiority or inferiority of the men-
tal capabilities of sentient beings; 5) know the inclinations and motivations of all sen-
tient beings; 6) know the differences in the dispositions of sentient beings; 7) know
all the destinies that sentient beings will follow; 8) know the former existences of
oneself and others; 9) know the future existences of sentient beings; and 10) know
one’s own eradication of all defilements.

ten stages (daśabhūmi): The ten stages in the career of a bodhisattva. See also bodhi-
sattva.

three ages (tryadhvan): Past, present, and future.

three bodies (trikāya): The three bodies, or manifestations, of a Buddha—1) the Dharma
body (dharmakāya), or ultimate truth; 2) the enjoyment body (saṃbhogakāya), a
symbolic personification of the Dharma body assumed by a Buddha both as a reward
for eons of practice and in order to teach bodhisattvas and others; and 3) the trans-
formation body (nirmāṇakāya), an “incarnate” or “historically manifested” body
of a buddha, such as Śākyamuni, that appears in the world to guide sentient beings
in a manner adapted to their situations and capacities. See also Dharma body.

269
Glossary

three mysteries: 1) the mystery of the body, 2) the mystery of speech, and 3) the mys-
tery of the mind. In a narrow sense they refer to the hand gestures (mudrās), mantras,
and visualizations employed in the meditative practices of Tantric Buddhism,
whereby the practitioner seeks to attune his physical, verbal, and mental activities
to those of a particular deity, but on a universal plane everything is regarded as a
manifestation of the three mysteries of Mahāvairocana. See also Mahāvairocana;
mantra; mudrā; Tantric Buddhism.

three poisons (tridoṣa): The three basic mental afflictions—1) desire or greed, 2) hatred
or anger, and 3) ignorance or delusion.

three realms (tridhātu): The three spheres of transmigratory existence—1) the realm of
desire (kāmadhātu), i.e., the world of everyday consciousness accompanied by
desires; 2) the realm of form (rūpadhātu), in which desires have been eliminated
but the physical body remains; and 3) the realm of non-form (ārūpyadhātu), in
which the physical body no longer exists.

twelve sense fields (dvādaśa āyatanāni): The six sense organs and their corresponding
six sense objects. See also six sense objects; six sense organs.

udāna: A joyous or inspired utterance, generally in verse.

uṣṇīṣa: The swelling of flesh or topknot of hair on the head of a buddha; also person-
ified as a class of deities rendered in Chinese as “Buddha-Crown” (or sometimes
“Tathāgata-Crown”).

Vairocana: A buddha and the expositor of the Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi-sūtra; he corre-

sponds to the enjoyment body (saṃbhogakāya), as opposed to Mahāvairocana, who
represents the Dharma body. See also Mahāvairocana; three bodies.

vajra: A diamond and, by extension, anything hard and indestructible; a ritual imple-
ment shaped like a bolt and having one, three, or five prongs at each end.

vajradhara: Literally, “vajra-holder.” A designation given to beings who engage in

Tantric practices and often used in contrast to “bodhisattva.” It is also used as an
alternative name for Vajrapāṇi. See also Tantric Buddhism; Vajrapāṇi.

Vajrapāṇi (“Vajra-in-Hand”): A bodhisattva who is in Tantric Buddhism generally equated

with Vajrasattva. See also Tantric Buddhism; Vajrasattva.

Vajrasattva (“Adamantine Being”): A bodhisattva associated with the awakening of the

aspiration for enlightenment (bodhicitta, or bodhi-mind). In the Vairocanābhi-
saṃbodhi-sūtra he is usually referred to as “Lord of Mysteries” and serves as Vairo-
cana’s interlocutor. See also bodhi-mind; Lord of Mysteries.

vidyā: The primary meaning of this term is “knowledge” or “science,” but it also came
to mean “magical power” or “spell.” See also dhāraṇī; mantra.

270
 Glossary

vidyādhara: Literally, “knowledge/spell-holder”; beings either human or supernatural

who possess magical powers (vidyā) due to their mastery of spells (vidyā).

vidyārāja: Literally, “spell-king”; the male personification of an especially potent spell

(vidyā), who usually assumes a fearsome appearance in order to subjugate and con-
vert obdurate nonbelievers. See also vidyā.

vidyārājñī: Literally, “spell-consort”; the female counterpart of a vidyārāja.

yakṣa: A class of semidivine beings originally regarded as possessing a generally benev-

olent disposition, although they are sometimes classed with more malignant spir-
its.

yakṣiṇī: The female counterpart of a yakṣa.

yoga: Literally, “yoking”; any practice or path that leads to a mystical experience or spir-
itual union. In Tantric Buddhism it refers to meditative or visualization practices,
such as deity yoga. See also Tantric Buddhism.

yogin: A practitioner of yoga.

yoginī: The female counterpart of a yogin.

271
 Index

A adamantine 54, 56, 76, 80, 81, 82, 151,

157, 216, 220, 224, 234, 243, 257
A 42, 55, 56, 64, 68, 73, 74, 78, 79, 81,
armor 58, 217, 226, 244
82, 85, 86, 89, 94, 95, 97, 100, 145,
fist(s) 130, 215, 223, 226, 238
149, 159, 160, 180, 183, 220, 221,
hand-clasp 221, 235
236, 237, 238, 255, 256, 260
light 151, 226
Ā 64, 74, 152
palace 3, 70
Abhaya 97
seat 76, 93, 103
Abhayaṃdada (see also Sarvasattvābha-
wisdom 76, 81, 82, 97, 98, 99, 103,
yaṃdada) 110, 142
114, 136
ābhicāruka 256
Adamantine Dharma 213
Abhimānin 191
Adamantine Needle (see also Vajrasūcī)
Abhimukha 64, 76, 113
61
Abhyudgata (see also Abhyudgatoṣṇīṣa)
Adamantine Pinnacle Sutra (see also
139
Sarvatathāgatatattvasaṃgraha) xiii,
Abhyudgatoṣṇīṣa (see also Abhyudgata)
245
32, 114
Ādideva 9
Acala 22, 31, 55, 56, 138, 219, 223, 225,
Āditya 9, 33, 63, 116, 141, 160
228, 246, 248
Agni 9, 19, 27, 33, 47, 97, 115, 140, 193,
Acalanātha 22, 63, 65, 97, 114, 129,
258
219, 223, 224, 227, 228, 248, 252
Aḥ 65, 74, 164
ācārya 17, 18, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30,
Āḥ 48, 60, 98, 103, 105, 110
31, 46, 47, 48, 49, 51, 95, 96, 97, 98,
Āhavanīya (see also Avahanika) 259
126, 128, 129, 131, 132, 159, 160,
Ai 163
161, 240, 250, 257
Ākarṣaṇī 34, 110, 141
accomplishment(s) (see also siddhi) 7,
Ākāśagarbha 35, 59, 99, 108, 143, 256
16, 69, 72, 74, 78, 91, 120, 127, 173,
Akṣobhya 21
175, 179, 205, 211, 230, 249, 250, 256
ālaya (see also consciousness, store-) 8,
rite(s) of 18, 70, 72, 77, 82, 83, 87,
13, 148
188, 209, 237
almsbowl 98, 104, 113, 139, 239
of siddhi 78, 94, 156, 229
Aṃ 56, 65, 74, 79, 90, 97, 100, 149, 164,
Acintyamati 35, 67, 111, 142
173, 175, 179, 236, 239, 254, 258
action-vajra (see also karma-vajra) 246,
Amitāyus 21, 29, 148
247, 260

273
Index

Amṛta 192
Anantasattvadhātuparitrāṇa 3
Anantasvaraghoṣa (see also
Anantasvaraghoṣoṣṇīṣa) 32, 139
Anantasvaraghoṣoṣṇīṣa (see also Ananta-
svaraghoṣa) 114
Aṅgiras 140
aṅkuśi 141
anuttarā samyaksaṃbodhi 5, 23, 169, 245
Anuttarayoga Tantras xiii
Aparājita 33, 62, 66, 113, 114, 139
Aparājitā 33, 62, 114, 139
Apāyaṃjaha (see also Sarvāpāyaṃjaha)
110
Aprapañcavihārin 3, 26, 49, 138
araṇya(s) 19, 210
arara 53, 228, 253
argha 49, 54, 79, 219, 221, 223, 224,
227, 244
arhat 4
Asakta 49
Āśāparipūraka 49
asura(s) 5, 6, 10, 11, 64, 68, 73, 81, 101
Atharvaṇa 116, 191, 258
Au 163
Avahanika 192
Avalokiteśvara 29, 30, 60, 65, 97, 108,
131, 136, 148, 157, 222, 245
Avataṃsaka-sūtra 252
awakening (see also bodhi; enlighten-
ment) 5, 6, 8, 16, 20, 23, 42, 70, 105,
120, 129, 131, 164, 169, 174, 176,
183, 187, 213
B 207, 208, 211, 213, 234, 244, 254
Ba 43, 163, 180, 181
Bha 43, 163, 180, 181
Bhadracaryāpraṇidhāna. See Samanta-
bhadra’s Vow of Practice
bhadrāsana 260
Bhagavān 3, 17, 20, 27, 53, 57, 63, 72,
74, 75, 100, 101, 119, 123, 124, 135,
155, 159, 165, 173, 175, 189, 199, 251
Bhaḥ 66, 98, 222, 239
Bhakṣa 192
Bharata. See Pitara
bhāsas (vulture) 140
Bhogavatī 137
bhṛkuṭi 98, 104, 226
Bhṛkuṭī 29, 60, 65, 109, 137, 222
bhūtas 68
birth (see also birth-and-death) 4, 16,
25, 40, 43, 46, 53, 79, 97, 100, 130,
134, 135, 145, 151, 152, 173, 180,
181, 185, 186, 191, 213, 215, 222
birth-and-death (see also rebirth; trans-
migration) 8, 9, 11, 77, 96, 101, 127,
165, 168, 212, 214, 243
bodhi (see also awakening; enlighten-
ment) 5, 6, 7, 8, 18, 24, 39, 42, 64,
65, 70, 72, 85, 99, 101, 103, 125, 135,
164, 167, 171, 173, 175, 185, 187,
188, 189, 192, 214, 221, 225, 243
mind of (see also bodhi-mind) 36,
105, 212
place, site of (see also bodhimaṇḍa)
84, 174, 213
bodhicitta. See bodhi-mind
bodhimaṇḍa (see also bodhi, place, site
of) 39, 84
bodhi-mind xv, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 22,
46, 51, 55, 69, 72, 74, 79, 80, 93, 94,
98, 99, 118, 120, 128, 129, 130, 133,
156, 160, 169, 180, 187, 195, 197,
bodhisattva(s) 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 18, 24,
25, 26, 28, 34, 35, 39, 40, 49, 51, 52,
53, 57, 59, 60, 63, 64, 68, 72, 74, 77,
78, 79, 80, 85, 86, 93, 94, 97, 98, 99,
101, 102, 109, 111, 112, 114, 117, 118,
119, 120, 123, 125, 127, 133, 134, 135,

274

138, 139, 142, 147, 148, 149, 151, 155,
160, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 173, 176,
188, 189, 191, 195, 197, 199, 200, 204,
210, 213, 222, 224, 229, 234, 235, 243,
244, 245, 246, 247, 251, 254
great 3, 100, 247
of great renown 22, 35, 84, 93, 189
practices 14, 15, 57, 77, 78, 79, 85,
86, 93, 94, 118, 120, 135, 151, 155,
165, 176, 191, 197, 199, 200, 247
world-saving 41, 80, 91, 145, 244
bodhi-seat 81, 94, 96, 125
Bodhivajra. See Vajrabodhi
body, speech, and mind 26, 124, 125, 148,
156, 207, 211, 212, 215, 255, 256, 259
equality of 3, 125, 258
three mysteries of 251
Brahmā 5, 9, 33, 39, 56, 62, 114, 116,
129, 140, 157, 160, 191, 192
Brahmaloka 191
brahman(s) 160, 192
Brahmāṇī 9, 114, 140
Brahmodana 191
Broad Vehicle (see also Vaipulya) 205,
206
Buddha (see also Śākyamuni; Tathāgata)
xv, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 14, 17, 19, 23, 25,
26, 38, 39, 41, 44, 50, 51, 52, 57, 72,
74, 78, 80, 83, 91, 93, 94, 104, 123,
128, 132, 133, 134, 143, 145, 152,
155, 156, 159, 160, 161, 165, 166,
167, 168, 169, 171, 173, 174, 175,
177, 187, 194, 197, 203, 204, 207,
208, 221, 222, 224, 231, 239, 259
Dharma (see also Dharma) 20, 168
Family 46
son(s) 18, 22, 26, 33, 34, 42, 50, 51,
52, 53, 82, 103, 125, 127, 132, 135,
136, 138, 140, 141, 151, 160, 163,
203, 214, 220
Index
buddha(s) 4, 7, 8, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 21,
22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 37, 39, 40, 42,
44, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56,
57, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67,
68, 69, 70, 72, 74, 76, 77, 80, 82, 85,
89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 99, 102, 103,
104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111,
112, 113, 114, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120,
123, 124, 125, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131,
133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 148, 149, 151,
152, 155, 163, 167, 174, 175, 176, 180,
188, 189, 203, 210, 211, 212, 213, 219,
220, 222, 224, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231,
233, 235, 237, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247,
253, 256, 260
attributes of (see also thirty-two attrib-
utes of a buddha, great person, Guid-
ing Teacher) 7, 14
-bodies (see also three bodies) 205
deeds 52, 93, 94, 173, 174, 176, 188,
229
fields, lands 3, 52, 53, 89, 91, 120, 147,
173, 213, 221
mother of (see also Buddha-Mother)
28, 63, 114, 138
stage. See stage(s)
Buddha-Crown(s) (see also Five Crowns;
Tathāgata-Crown) 41, 61, 114
Three 32, 66
Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha (see also
Three Jewels) 168, 188, 203, 259
Buddhaguhya xiv, xv, 252, 253, 255,
257, 258, 259
Buddhalocanā 32, 114, 139, 222
Buddha-Mother (see also buddha[s],
mother of) 22
Buddhism (see also Esoteric Buddhism;
Tantric Buddhism) xiii, xvi
Bukesiyi xiv
burnt offerings (see also homa) 194
275
Index

C ḍākinīs 68, 117

dāna. See giving
Ca 43, 163, 180, 181
dānapati 246
caitya(s) 19, 40, 245
daṇḍa 33, 97, 98, 115, 140
cakravartin 216, 222
Dāruṇa 192
Cāmuṇḍā 116
deity(ies) (see also divinity) xvi, 24, 28,
Candra 9, 33, 63, 116, 141, 160
29, 31, 32, 34, 35, 44, 45, 46, 57, 69,
Candratilaka 30
74, 98, 131, 132, 134, 135, 136, 138,
Cāritramati 35, 67, 112, 143
143, 151, 176, 183, 194, 197, 201,
Caryā Tantra xiii
207, 211, 222, 223, 228, 233, 234,
cause(s) xv, 5, 8, 9, 14, 40, 44, 55, 78,
236, 238, 239, 240, 244, 246, 248,
83, 84, 129, 166, 167, 181, 209, 252,
252, 254, 255, 256, 259
254, 255
maṇḍala 26, 57, 240
and action 50, 78, 83, 199
mantra 200, 219, 224, 255
and conditions 13, 24, 39, 63, 80, 168,
physical form(s) of xvi, 131, 151, 197,
207, 247
234
and result 40, 41, 78, 83, 135
seed-syllables of xvi, 124
twelve, of dependent arising 13
symbolic objects of xvi
celibate(s) 160, 207
wrathful 31, 222
Cha 48, 163, 180, 181
demon(s) 33, 125, 216, 217, 226, 239
China xiv, xvi
four 39, 80, 125, 174
Chinese xiii, xiv, xv, xvi, xvii, 251, 252,
dependent arising 13, 15, 73, 176, 249
253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259,
destiny(ies) 4, 6, 39, 42, 71, 101, 189,
260, 261
229, 230
cintāmaṇi (see also maṇi, maṇi-gem) 29,
evil 36, 118, 167
77, 82, 97, 111, 114, 142, 179, 235
six 80, 206
Citrā 34, 66, 141
deva. See god
compassion xv, 5, 6, 18, 22, 46, 48, 50,
Dha 43, 163, 180, 181
60, 72, 75, 85, 99, 105, 109, 110, 111,
Ḍha 43, 163, 180, 181
125, 130, 142, 180, 187, 193, 206,
dhāraṇīs 7, 152, 173, 221, 253
208, 211, 230
Dharaṇiṃdhara 35, 67, 111, 142
great 23, 24, 29, 93, 127, 135, 166,
Dharaṇiṃdharā 33
238, 243, 244
Dhāraṇīpratilabdha 254
consciousness(es) 6, 8, 133
Dhāraṇīśvararāja 49
six 13
dharma(s) 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11–12, 13, 14,
store- (see also ālaya) 8
15, 20, 26, 37, 40, 42–43, 44, 48, 50,
“Continuation Tantra.” See Uttara-tantra
51, 53, 57, 59, 61, 72, 89, 108, 113,
culmination xv, 5, 252
123, 124, 125, 126, 133, 148, 156, 160,
D 166, 167, 168, 171, 175, 180–81, 182,
183, 185, 187, 189, 207, 208, 213, 219,
Da 43, 163, 180, 181
221, 225, 226, 235, 236, 237, 243, 245
Ḍa 43, 163, 180, 181

276

-marks 123, 148
three 101, 171, 187, 215, 255, 258
Dharma (see also Buddha, Dharma, and
Sangha; Right Dharma) 3, 4, 7, 12,
16, 17, 18, 20, 23, 24, 25, 27, 31, 40,
44, 51, 54, 57, 59, 64, 68, 71, 77, 78,
81, 87, 93, 94, 95, 102, 107, 112, 123,
125, 131, 152, 153, 169, 177, 187,
203, 208, 210, 211, 214, 221, 227,
230, 238, 245, 250, 259, 260
Adamantine 212
Buddha’s 20, 168
conch 50, 102
gateway 3, 17, 51, 59, 119, 120, 166,
167, 203
-phrases 41, 59, 71, 74
-thusness 20, 42
wheel 46, 50, 84, 99, 102, 121, 157,
216
Dharma body (see also three bodies) 90,
148, 214, 216
Dharma-Buddha 40
dharmadhātu. See Dharma realm
dharmakāya. See Dharma body
Dharma King, Lord 72, 94
Dharma-nature 13, 73
Dharma realm 3, 7, 17, 21, 37, 42, 43,
46, 49, 52, 53, 59, 64, 65, 71, 73, 74,
75, 77, 78, 95, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102,
123, 124, 125, 130, 132, 135, 147,
148, 165, 173, 179, 214, 215, 216,
217, 221, 228, 229, 231, 243, 244,
245, 246, 248
dhyāna (see also meditation) 233, 240
divinity(ies) (see also deity) 28, 79, 95,
126, 127, 129, 130, 131, 132, 134,
135, 151, 157, 192, 233, 234, 244,
245, 249
dPal-brtsegs xiv
Dṛḍhādhyāśaya 35, 67, 112, 143
Dundubhisvara 148
Index
Durdharṣa 64, 76, 97, 113, 256
E
E 163
Earth-bearing God. See Dharaṇiṃdharā
Earth Goddess. See Pṛthivī
East Asia xiii, xvi
eighteen elements 6, 13, 15, 213
empowerment 4, 22, 40, 42, 46, 48, 53,
73, 75, 93, 94, 148, 203, 219, 221,
229, 231, 233, 238, 244, 245
emptiness 9, 10, 14, 15, 38, 39, 41, 84,
91, 94, 95, 133, 161, 180, 183, 213,
238, 253, 258
dot(s) of 46, 55, 56, 79, 81, 83, 84, 90,
95, 97, 100, 136, 137, 149, 152,
217, 235, 236, 238, 253
empty (see also emptiness) 15, 38, 57, 71,
77, 78, 176, 177, 180, 183, 189, 199
empty space (see also space) 5, 6, 8, 14,
15, 16, 20, 25, 39, 43, 44, 70, 71, 73,
75, 79, 84, 94, 123, 125, 129, 134, 135,
140, 152, 161, 176, 179, 180, 185, 189,
216, 220, 226, 229, 230, 236, 255
realm(s) of 6, 173, 174, 179
enlightenment (see also awakening;
bodhi) xv, 25, 247, 252
equality 21, 59, 93, 107, 108, 125, 145,
206, 208, 236, 252, 257
of all dharmas 15, 108, 166
of body, speech, and mind 3, 4, 125,
258
Esoteric Buddhism (see also Tantric
Buddhism) xiii
expedient(s), expedient means xv, 5, 6,
14, 18, 20, 40, 57, 70, 72, 77, 78, 81,
123, 125, 132, 133, 148, 161, 165,
166, 167, 169, 205, 208, 212, 213,
214, 221, 224, 233, 237, 239, 240,
244, 245, 247, 249, 250, 258
277
Index

F Dharma, to the Dharma, Dharma realm

3, 17, 51, 69, 74, 119, 120, 166,
faith 18, 23, 24, 57, 72, 73, 169, 188,
167, 203
205, 206, 231
four, to deliverance (see also four
faith-and-understanding 3, 7, 14, 17, 18,
means of conversion) 208
57, 73, 117, 147, 194, 205, 210, 231,
four-limbed dhyāna 233, 240
249
letter-, of letters 42–43, 46, 55, 56, 68,
fearlessness 9, 14, 15, 98, 104, 110, 115,
78, 79, 82, 84, 85, 89, 90, 94, 95,
142, 234
96, 97, 100, 119, 120, 163, 217,
Fire God. See Agni
222, 226, 228, 234, 235, 236, 237,
Fire of Wisdom. See Mahendra
239, 245, 248
five aggregates 13, 15, 213
mantra, of mantras 3, 14, 15, 57, 72,
Five Crowns (see also Buddha-Crown;
77, 78, 79, 85, 86, 93, 94, 118, 120,
Tathāgata-Crown) 32
123, 135, 151, 155, 176, 188, 197,
five desires 77, 210
199, 200, 209, 244, 247
five supernatural faculties (see also
to omniscience 95, 168
supernatural, faculties) 4, 7, 91, 133
samādhi, to samādhi 44, 182, 183
four Brahmic abodes 42
to the three mysteries 235, 237
four demons. See demons, four
vocal 74, 123
four means of conversion (see also gate-
gāthā(s) 49, 50, 94
ways, four, to deliverance) 14, 169,
Gautama 140
259
Gha 43, 163, 180
Fullness of Action 193
ghaṇṭā 103, 115
G giving 43, 147, 166, 167, 181, 208, 259
god(s) 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 19, 39,
Ga 43, 97, 163, 180, 255
64, 70, 72, 73, 81, 83, 101, 103, 130,
Gaganagañja 75, 221, 229, 231
133, 157, 199, 207, 210, 251, 258
Gaganalocanā 22, 28, 63, 65, 97
earth-dwelling 149
Gaganāmala 3, 35, 49, 67, 112, 138,
fire 191, 193, 194
143, 256
moon 192
Gaganamati 35, 67, 112, 143
mundane 41, 64, 130, 134, 145, 207
Gaganānantavikrama 138
Paranirmitavaśavartin 73
Gaganasaṃbhava 3
of Pure Abode 68, 73, 140
Gaganavikrama 3
sun 192
gandha 55
Golden Wheel (see also cakravartin) 222
gandharva(s) 4, 6, 64, 101, 116
Great Awakened One 173, 220, 243
city 13, 15, 16, 133
Great Being (see also mahāsattva,
Garga 140
Mahāsattva) 38, 45, 56
garuḍa(s) 6, 10, 11, 64, 101
Greater Tang dynasty 1
Garuḍa 9
Great Muni (see also mahāmuni, Mahā-
gateway(s) 7, 24, 71, 75, 173, 179, 188,
muni; Muni) 7, 126, 171, 175, 189
237

278
 Index

Great Seer 135 I

Great Self(ves) 24, 32, 35, 141, 149, 175
I 99, 120, 163
Great Striving Hero (see also mahāvīra;
Ī 99, 163
Striving Hero) 7, 36, 39, 127, 169,
India, Indian xiii, xiv, xvi, 1, 252
175
Indo-Tibetan xvii
Great Vehicle (see also Mahayana) 4, 8,
indra (see also mahendra) 81, 82, 86,
13, 16, 18, 23, 24, 25, 37, 81, 165,
139, 141, 142, 156, 220
166, 167, 175, 208, 211, 243, 244,
Indra 41, 253
245, 247
Indra’s net 133
Great Wish-fulfilling Jewel 139
initiation xvi, 23, 173, 175
Guide 207, 220
rites xvi, 255
Guiding Teacher(s) 98, 126, 127, 136,
insignia 30, 86, 101, 117, 124, 132, 137,
148, 185, 188, 189, 230, 231, 245
140, 141, 142, 147, 152, 215, 226,
H 234, 240
Īśvara 8, 9, 10, 11, 32, 72, 115, 134
Ha 43, 55, 79, 83, 84, 86, 96, 180, 181,
220, 248, 255, 256 J
Haṃ 83, 238, 260
Ja 43, 163, 180, 181
hand-clasp (see also saṃpuṭa) 111, 116
Jalendra 65
adamantine 221, 235
Jālinīprabha 34, 66, 98, 109, 141
hollow 101, 102, 106, 107, 108, 109,
Jāṃ 98
151, 152, 235
Jambū River 221
of homage 102, 224, 244
Japan, Japanese xv, xvi
Havana 191
Jaṭhara 192, 193
Haviṣya 192
Jayā 33, 116, 141
Havyavāhana 191
Jayoṣṇīṣa 32, 66, 114, 139
Hayagrīva 30, 60, 65, 109, 137, 222
Jha 43, 163, 180, 181
hetu. See cause
jihva 117
Hitādhyāśayin 49
jina 21, 100, 104
Holder of Adamantine Wisdom (see also
Jina 205, 219, 249
Vajrapāṇi) 27, 30, 37
Jueyuan xv
homa (see also burnt offering) 37, 47,
48, 126, 127, 130, 131, 134, 191, 192, K
194, 259
Ka 43, 95, 97, 163, 180, 235, 236, 258
external 130, 193, 194
kalala (see also karara) 53, 253
internal 130, 131, 193, 194, 195
Kālarātri 33, 62, 115, 140, 160
householder(s) 160, 169, 210
kalaśa(s) 45, 137, 140, 141, 152
Hūṃ 70, 97, 137, 160
Kāmada 192
human(s) 4, 5, 6, 14, 68, 72, 83, 100,
kapāla 116, 140
101, 103, 123, 130, 133, 155, 157,
karara (see also kalala) 228, 253
169, 179, 189, 246
Karkoṭaka 9

279
Index

karma 4, 13, 14, 42, 94, 123, 125, 127, Laṃ 90

131, 134, 135, 194, 252 letter(s) 33, 42, 46, 49, 55, 56, 69, 73, 78,
karma-vajra (see also action-vajra) 136, 79, 81, 83, 84, 85, 86, 90, 94, 95,
143 97–99, 100, 120, 137, 145, 149, 151,
Karma-Vajrasattva 96, 99, 148, 260 159–60, 163–64, 173, 180–81, 183,
Karuṇāmṛḍita (see also Mahākaruṇā- 193, 216, 217, 219, 220, 221, 222, 226,
mṛḍita) 35, 111, 142 233, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 244, 246,
Kāruṇya 49 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258
kāṣāya 31, 98, 139, 222 -gateway, gateway of 42–43, 46, 55,
Kāśyapa 140 56, 68, 78, 79, 82, 84, 85, 89, 90,
Kauberī 140 94, 95, 96, 97, 100, 119, 120, 163,
Kaumārī 115, 140 217, 222, 226, 228, 234, 235, 236,
Kautūhala 34, 66, 110, 142 239, 245, 248
Keśinī 34, 66, 110, 141 heart- 245, 246
ketu 77, 140 hundred (see also vidyā, hundred-
Kha 43, 84, 161, 163, 180, 226, 235, 238 lettered) 171, 173, 175, 179, 183,
khaḍga 56, 77, 84, 97, 99, 102, 116 235, 258, 260
Khaṃ 84, 161, 226, 235, 238 wheel of 93, 119–121, 160
khaṅgari 142 Liao dynasty xv
kīlakam 56 lion 10, 12, 174
kiṃnara(s) 6, 64, 68, 101 throne 3, 220, 251
King of Gods (see also Śakra, Śakra Lion of the Śākyas (see also Śākya-
Devendra) 14, 33 siṃha) 18, 19, 32
Korean xiv Lokanātha 9
kośa (see also treasury) 123 Lokavidyārājñī 66
Kravyāda 193, 259 Lord. See Bhagavan
Krodhacandratilaka 61, 113 Lord of Creatures. See Brahmā
Kṛtānta 192 Lord of Goblins. See Nairṛti
Kṣaṃ 98 Lord of Mysteries (see also Vajrapāṇi)
Kṣaya 193 3–16, 17–18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 26, 36,
Kṣitigarbha 35, 60, 99, 109, 111, 142, 40–41, 42, 44, 49, 51–52, 55, 57, 59,
222 68, 69, 72, 77–78, 79, 80, 84, 86, 89,
Kubera 9, 140 94, 97, 101, 117, 119, 120, 124, 126,
Kūkai xvi 128, 135, 136, 137, 138, 148, 151,
Kulika 9 152, 159, 163, 165–69, 173, 174, 175,
Kumāra 140 176–77, 179, 180, 182, 183, 187, 188,
189, 191, 192, 193, 194, 197,
L 199–200, 201, 251
La 43, 90, 163, 180, 181 Lord of the World. See Prajāpati
lakṣa(s) 69, 75, 77, 78, 156, 201, 237, 259 Lord of Vajradharas. See Vajrapāṇi
lakṣaṇa (see also mark) 43, 181, 259 Lord of Water. See Varuṇa

280

lunar
disc 69, 84, 131, 151, 176, 236, 254
mansion(s) 19, 117, 127. 203
M maṇḍala(s) xvi, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23,
Ma 44, 163, 180, 182
Mahābhāga 138
Mahābrahmā 191
Mahākaruṇāmṛḍita (see also Karuṇā-
mṛḍita) 67
Mahākrodha 257
Mahāmaitryabhyudgata 35, 67, 111, 142
mahāmuni, Mahāmuni (see also Great
Muni) 96, 175
Mahānārāyaṇabalin 3
Mahāpadma 9
Mahāphaṇi 9
mahāsattva(s), Mahāsattva (see also
Great Being) 23, 26, 35, 49, 55, 89,
159,165, 175
mahā seal. See seal, great
Mahāsthāmaprāpta 29, 60, 65, 108, 137
Mahāvaipulya-sūtrendrarāja xiii
Mahāvairocana (see also Vairocana) 7,
14, 55, 96, 97, 147, 159, 237
Mahāvairocana-sūtra (see also Vairo-
canābhisaṃbodhi-sūtra) xiv
Mahāvairocana Sutra King (see also
Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi-sūtra) 205
Mahāvajra 138
mahāvīra, Mahāvīra (see also Great
Striving Hero) 7, 21, 65
Mahayana (see also Great Vehicle) xiv,
xv, 4, 25, 127, 189
mahendra (see also indra) 81, 139, 220,
255
Mahendra 192
Maheśvara 73, 160
Mahodgata (see also Mahodgatoṣṇīṣa)
139
Mahodgatoṣṇīṣa (see also Mahodgata) 32
Index
mahoraga(s) 4, 5, 6, 64, 68, 101
Maitreya 3, 49, 59, 108, 148, 222
Māmakī 30, 61, 112, 137, 222
manas (see also mind) 194
26, 27, 28, 36, 37, 39, 44, 46, 47, 49,
51, 56, 59, 64, 70, 72, 74, 76, 81, 82,
83, 84, 86, 89, 95, 96, 98, 100, 118,
124, 126, 127, 128, 129, 132, 135,
136, 137, 138, 139, 141, 142, 143,
145, 148, 149, 151, 152, 159, 177,
206, 240, 246, 253, 255, 257
“Born of Compassion,” “Born of the
Matrix of Great Compassion,”
“Matrix of Great Compassion” xvi,
17, 19, 23, 28, 35, 51, 59, 95, 96,
126, 136, 175, 206, 240
deities, divinities 26, 57, 124, 151, 240
“Great King of Lotus Flowers” 100
practices 17, 93
secret 123, 127, 136, 145, 147
stations 57, 151
vajra 81, 255
“Which Generates the Buddhas” 23
wind 140, 143
Maṅgala 191
maṇi, maṇi-gem(s) (see also cintāmaṇi)
25, 52, 139, 247, 221
Mañjughoṣa 141
Mañjuśrī 3, 34, 60, 65, 78, 96, 109, 110,
141, 222, 235
Mañjuśrīkumārabhūta 148
Manojava 32, 115
mantra(s) xvii, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 24,
34, 36, 39, 41, 42, 44, 47, 48, 49, 52,
53–54, 55, 56, 57, 59–68, 69, 72, 73,
74, 77, 78, 82, 89, 90, 91, 94, 98, 99,
102–117, 128, 130, 131, 132, 134, 135,
141, 145, 148, 151–52, 159, 160, 171,
175, 176, 183, 194, 200, 201, 203, 205,
206, 207, 211, 212–17, 219, 220,
281
Index
mantra(s) (continued)
223–28, 230, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237,
238, 239, 241, 244, 245, 246, 248, 250,
252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 260, 261
“birth in the Dharma realm” 53, 215
characteristics of 37, 40, 41, 42, 44,
78, 241
essence of 68, 159
gateway, gateway of 3, 14, 15, 57, 72,
77, 78, 79, 85, 86, 93, 94, 118, 120,
123, 135, 151, 155, 176, 188, 197,
199, 200, 209, 244, 247
heart- 59, 60, 61, 63, 64, 74, 222, 225,
227, 234, 235, 237, 238, 245, 246,
248
instructions for, rules 46, 75, 121, 188
king of, sovereign 124, 125, 171, 175,
223
method 36, 41, 186, 183, 205
path 4, 18, 36, 37, 42, 44, 50, 73, 120,
125, 151
practice(s), practice of 15, 16, 17, 18,
20, 36, 41, 70, 72, 74, 77, 81, 87,
89, 90, 95, 123, 125, 127, 134, 205,
206, 209, 244
practitioner (see also mantrin) 22, 24,
27, 31, 33, 34, 44, 45, 50, 55, 70,
95, 237, 243
reciting, recitation(s) xvi, 22, 24, 26,
27, 31, 33, 34, 44, 45, 50, 55, 69,
75, 80, 156, 201, 215, 228, 229,
233, 237, 239
samaya 57, 206, 224, 244
siddhi 16, 72, 90, 233
teachings 42, 69, 257
twelve-limbed 136
world-savior 171, 175, 176, 179, 185
mantra-lord 31, 136, 219
Mantra Vehicle 23, 24, 210, 231, 249
mantrin (see also mantra, practitioner)
16, 20, 27, 32, 34, 69, 77, 78, 79, 86,
282
90, 91, 95, 98, 99, 105, 121, 124, 127,
132, 133, 134, 145, 149, 157, 160,
176, 201, 215, 222, 228, 229, 247
Māra 18, 19, 20, 84, 96, 104
mark(s) (see also lakṣaṇa) 33, 41, 52,
114, 234, 259
dharma- 123, 148
eighty minor, of a samyaksaṃbuddha
182
seal- 140, 143
thirty-two, of a buddha (see also thirty-
two attributes of a buddha, great
person, Guiding Teacher) 256
Mārkaṇḍa 140
Māruta 191, 193
Mātṛs (see also Mothers) 73, 76
meditation (see also dhyāna; samādhi;
samāhita) 21, 52, 53, 72, 79, 94, 96,
101, 147, 148, 156, 157, 194, 215,
219, 238, 239, 248, 249, 255
Messenger 192
mind(s) (see also bodhi-mind; body,
speech, and mind) xv, 3, 4, 5 6, 7, 8,
9, 10–13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26,
27, 28, 33, 35, 36, 38, 39, 44, 45, 46,
52, 55, 56, 68, 70, 72, 74, 75, 76, 77,
78, 79, 80, 82, 83, 85, 86, 89, 90, 93,
95, 98, 111, 120, 123, 124, 125, 129,
131, 132, 133, 135, 143, 148, 149,
168, 174, 176, 177, 179, 180, 187,
194, 197, 199, 201, 205, 206, 208,
209, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 223,
224, 226, 231, 233, 240, 245, 246,
247, 248, 249, 251, 252
-born 8, 148, 251
of bodhi (see also bodhi-mind) 36,
105, 212
Buddha’s, of the Buddha, Perfectly
Awakened One, Tathāgata 50, 51,
79, 187, 206, 221
characteristics of 6, 7, 10, 14
 Index

concentrated 21, 75, 95, 157 Nanda 34, 46, 63, 116, 140
eight 13, 252 Nandopananda (see also Nanda; Upa-
great 25, 36, 105, 212, 213 nanda) 116
-ground 17, 128, 148, 220 Nārāyaṇa 9, 115, 116
-king 79, 194 Nārāyaṇabalin 3
-lord 13 Nārāyāṇī 115
mundane 13, 252 Nidhi 192
nature(s) of xv, 6, 13, 90, 215 Nīlavajra 138
one hundred and sixty 8, 10–13, 252 nirvana (see also parinirvāṇa) 10, 65,
resolute 85, 206, 233 102, 125
supramundane 13, 201 non-birth 39, 93, 100, 236
ten 14, 252 non-Buddhist(s) 8, 13, 57, 165, 175
three 6, 14, 252 non-human(s) 5, 6, 101
Mind-born 193 no-self 13, 15, 22, 222
mindful, mindfulness 23, 45, 107, 199,
203, 211 O
four stations of 42 O 163
Mohana 193 offering(s) (see also burnt offering) 9,
Moon. See Candra 14, 20, 37, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50, 53, 77,
Mother(s) (see also Buddha-Mother; 78, 94, 99, 126, 130, 134, 149, 194,
Mātṛs; Seven Mothers) 62, 73, 148 203, 214, 219, 221, 225, 227, 228,
Mother of Śākyamuni. See Buddhalocanā 229, 237, 243, 246, 247, 260
Mount Meru 56, 82 Oṃ 33, 193
Mount Sumeru 10, 12, 33, 133 omniscience, omniscient 14, 28, 57, 87,
Mṛḍa 193, 194 95, 125, 127, 129, 164, 168, 243, 247,
Mṛtyu 62, 140 249
mudgara 84, 140 omniscient one(s), Omniscient One 25,
mudrā(s) (see also seal) xvi, 142, 197, 36, 40, 64, 74, 80, 155, 164, 175, 186,
257 253
mūla. See root knowledge of xv, 4, 5, 6, 17, 18, 42,
Muni (see also Great Muni) 37, 85, 89, 80, 94, 167, 169, 179
96, 98, 171, 175, 221 ordinary beings, people, person (see also
worldling) 8, 15, 20, 179, 199, 214,
N 252
Na 44, 180, 182 own-nature 8, 13, 15, 71, 125, 148, 176,
Ña 44, 180, 182 180, 190, 199, 245, 248
Ṅa 44, 180, 182 of dharmas 15, 133, 221
Ṇa 44, 180, 182 of mind 14, 135, 199, 213
nāga(s) 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 33, 34, 35, 46,
62, 63, 64, 97, 99, 101, 116 P
Nairṛti 31, 33, 62, 97, 116, 138, 140 Pa 43, 163, 180, 181, 255

283
Index

padma 29, 32, 44, 79, 129, 136, 137, precept(s) 9, 24, 25, 26, 51, 99, 133,
139, 151 155, 156, 165, 166–68, 169, 209, 258
Padma 9 prohibitory 72, 155, 156, 191
Padmapāṇi 4, 22, 160 ten xvi, 165, 166–68
Pāṇḍaravāsinī 29, 60, 65, 109, 137, 222, unconditioned 7, 169
253 priyaṅgu 29, 30, 99, 253
Pāpīyas 125 Pṛthivī 19, 33, 62, 66, 115, 140, 160
Paramāśva (see also Supreme Adaman- Puṣkara. See Puṣkaroda
tine Flame) 260 Puṣkaroda 191, 258
Paramavajrajvālānala (see also Supreme
Adamantine Flame) 260 Q
Paramavegha 3 quiescence, quiescent 8, 13, 41, 43, 75,
pāramitā(s) 14, 19, 94, 221 94, 95, 133, 181, 221
of expedient means 6, 77
six 42, 101, 149, 215 R
Paranirmitavaśavartin 73 Ra 43, 46, 56, 83, 85, 86, 90, 95, 100,
parinirvāṇa (see also nirvana) 120, 164, 145, 149, 160, 163, 180, 181, 216,
188 217, 219, 256
Paritrāṇāśayamati 35, 67, 110, 142 rākṣasa(s) 10, 12, 52, 68, 117, 157, 217
Pārśvasaṃvīta 191 Raṃ 46, 49, 83, 228, 236, 238, 244, 245
Pārthiva 191 Raśmimālin 32, 115
paryavasāna. See culmination Ratnakara 66, 253, 257
pauṣṭika (see also rite, for increasing Ratnākara 35, 67, 111, 142, 254, 257
benefits) 192, 256 Ratnaketu 21, 148
Pāvaka 191, 192 Ratnamudrāhasta 35, 67, 112, 143
Pavamāna (see also Vahamāna) 259 Ratnamukuṭa 141
Pha 43, 163, 180, 181 Ratnapāṇi 35, 67, 111, 142, 254, 257
piśāca(s) 68, 117, 157 realm(s) (see also Dharma realm) 6, 13,
piśācīs 117 14, 73, 75, 78, 125, 127, 129, 214, 221
Pitara 191, 258 of beings 4, 17, 23, 24, 37, 52, 59, 75,
“Practice Tantra.” See Caryā Tantra 93, 98, 105, 110, 123, 135, 166,
Pradīpoddyotana 259 179, 187, 211, 221, 230, 243
Pragalbha 191 of desire 6, 72, 254
Prajāpati 160 of empty space 6, 173, 174, 179
prajñā 255 of form 6, 194, 254
prajñāpāramitā 18 of non-form 6, 254
Prajñāpāramitā 96 objective 20, 86, 140, 194
Prathita 191, 258 three 230, 254
pratyekabuddha(s) 4, 5, 14, 19, 25, 39, rebirth (see also birth-and-death; trans-
40, 41, 42, 44, 63, 79, 80, 94, 123, migration) 10, 12, 42, 123, 125, 127,
129, 133, 134, 205 131, 134, 135, 167, 194

284
 Index

recitation(s) xvi, 15, 70, 76, 81, 156, S

179, 201, 215, 233, 236, 237, 247,
Sa 43, 97, 160, 180
249, 259, 260, 261
Śa 43, 180, 181
four-limbed 237, 254, 259, 260
Ṣa 43, 180, 181
preliminary 69, 70, 237
Sabhya (see also Śadbhi) 259
Right Dharma 212
Sadānanta 9
rite(s) 27, 83, 85, 87, 99, 120, 126, 137,
Śadbhi 191
206, 223, 226, 233, 235, 237, 249,
Sādhanamālā 260
254, 256
Saḥ 98
of accomplishment 18, 70, 72, 77, 82,
Sāhasa 192
83, 188, 209, 237
Śakra, Śakra Devendra 14, 33, 56 62,
concentration 100
97, 98, 99, 157, 160
external 229, 248
śakti 115, 140
food 126, 246
Śākya lineage 9, 98
for increasing benefits (see also
Śākyamuni (see also Śākyasiṃha) 31,
pauṣṭika) 192, 193, 194
32, 33, 34, 61, 66, 98, 104, 113, 114,
for quelling calamities (see also śāntika)
139, 173, 222, 238, 239, 254
192, 193
Śākyasiṃha (see also Lion of the Śākyas;
four-limbed 237
Śākyamuni) 32, 139, 140, 141
initiation xvi, 255
samādhi(s) 7, 21, 28, 30, 37, 38, 39, 41,
internal 248
42, 44, 74, 82, 95, 96, 123, 127, 128,
mental 201, 237
130, 135, 149, 176, 179, 183, 193,
of recitation 69, 247
207, 221, 233, 255, 259
yoga 249
“Adamantine Play Which Vanquishes
ritual 20, 28, 47, 57, 79, 95, 126, 131,
the Four Demons” 80
132, 136, 138, 145, 206, 209, 219,
“Adornment of the Buddha’s Sphere”
226, 228, 240, 243, 248, 250
59
hand gestures (see also seal) xvi
“Birth of Knowledge” 171
homa 191, 259
“Born of Fire” 63
instructions 45, 46, 47, 95, 100, 121,
“Born of Nectar” 93
125, 129, 143, 248
deity 197, 234
manual(s) xiv–xv, xvi, 259
of emptiness 41
rules 205, 233, 235, 240
gateway(s) 44, 182, 183
site 55, 129, 132, 206, 220
“Generation of the Matrix of Great
teachings 145, 151, 155, 157
Compassion” 17
Rohita 193
“Generation of Universal Great Benev-
root(s) xv, 5, 6, 128, 168, 207, 208, 252
olence” 59
of goodness 133, 168, 237
“Great Adamantine Invincibility” 60
Rudra 9, 62, 115, 140
“Immeasurable Victory” 96
Rudrāṇī 115
“Inviolable Strength of the Body” 101

285
Index
samādhi(s) (continued)
“Matrix-Treasury of the Dharma
Realm” 53
of mental attainment (see also samā-
patti) 147
of not forgetting the bodhi-mind 79
“Observation from the High Peak of
the Pure Dharma Banner” 52
path(s) 39, 40, 41, 180
“Place of Jewels” 61
“Power of Compassion” 60
“Sphere of Adamantine Indestructible
Conduct” 60
“Sphere of Purity” 59
“Supernatural Power of the Buddha’s
Empowerment” 60
“Swift Power of the Single Essence of
All Tathāgatas” 39
that removes all obscurations 7
“Treasury of the Adornments of
Equality” 123
“Treasury of the Purity of Adornments”
73
“Universal Gaze” 60
of the utter extinction of speech 41
without characteristics 78, 199–200
samāhita (see also meditation) 238
Samantabhadra 3, 4, 49, 51, 59, 78, 80,
108, 148, 173, 204, 222, 231
Samantabhadra’s Vow of Practice 243
Samantakusuma 32, 115
samāpatti 73, 147
samaya(s) 46, 51, 99, 101, 102, 118,
127, 132–33, 145, 149, 206, 208, 209,
219, 224, 257
mantra 57, 206, 224, 244
seal(s) 99, 215, 248
three 171, 173, 187–89, 258
saṃbodhi (see also bodhi) 17, 128, 257,
258
saṃbuddha 157, 176, 189, 257
286
Śaṃkara 9, 33, 116, 141, 222
Śaṃkarī 116
Saṃkusumitarāja 148
Saṃkusumitarājendra 21
saṃpuṭa (see also hand-clasp) 101, 217,
225, 227
samsara. See birth-and-death
Samudbhava 191
samyaksaṃbodhi 174
samyaksaṃbuddha 4, 182, 188
sangha 48, 246
śaṅkha 29, 32, 79, 82, 95, 102, 136, 139,
143
seal 112, 114
Śaṅkha 9
Sanskrit xiii, xiv, xvii, 151, 193, 213,
230, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 257,
258, 259, 260, 266
śānta 42
Śānta 192
śānti. See quiescence, quiescent
śāntika (see also rite, for quelling
calamities) 192, 256
Sarasvatī 33, 62, 116, 141, 160
Sarvabhayavināśin 97
Sarvadāhapraśāmin 35, 67, 111, 142
Sarvadharmasamatāvihārin 3
Sarvadurgatipariśodhana-tantra 260
sarvajña. See omniscient one
sarvajñajnāna. See omniscient one,
knowledge of
sarvajñāna. See omniscience, omniscient
Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin 3, 34, 49, 60,
65, 98, 108, 142, 222
Sarvāpāyaṃjaha (see also Apāyaṃjaha)
35, 49, 67, 142
Sarvāśāparipūraka 29
Sarvasattvābhayaṃdada (see also
Abhayaṃdada) 34, 67
Sarvatathāgatatattvasaṃgraha (see also
Adamantine Pinnacle Sutra) xiii

scripture(s) (see also sutra) 204, 206,
207, 208, 226, 234, 235, 245, 247
extensive (see also vaipulya-sūtra) xiii
Scripture of the Enlightenment, Super-
natural Transformations, and Em-
powerment of Mahāvairocana (see
also Vairocanabhisaṃbodhi-sūtra)
xiii, 38, 68, 100, 118, 164, 204, 250
seal(s) (see also mudrā) xvi, 28, 33, 34,
46, 95, 96, 97–98, 99, 102, 103, 104,
106–117, 127, 128, 131, 132, 134,
137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143,
151, 152, 156, 157, 160, 197, 205,
206, 207, 215, 216, 219, 221, 223,
224, 225, 226, 234, 235, 237, 244,
248, 255, 256, 257, 261
adamantine fist 130
“adamantine indestructibility of the
Word-honored One” 151
adamantine knowledge, wisdom 81,
82, 97, 99, 103, 114, 216
“adornment with the Tathāgata’s
myriad virtues” 152
of all omnisceince, omniscient ones
28, 253
almsbowl 98, 113
auspicious 130, 216
banner 110, 116, 140, 141
bell 116, 140
“birth from all the Tathāgata’s limbs”
100, 130, 152
“birth of the World-honored One’s
great majesty” 151
“born of the Dharma realm” 46
carriage 116
cloud 116
daṇḍa (staff) 33, 115, 140, 141
Dharma-wheel, of the Dharma wheel
46, 99, 102, 216
disc 139, 140, 143
eight secret 151–53
Index
flag 111
great 102, 103, 104, 226
of a great lotus 136
hammer 115
hook 105, 106, 114, 139, 141, 224
jewel 141
kagāla (skull) 140
kāṣāya 98
khaḍga 116
khaṅgari (knife) 142
lance 110, 115
lotus-flower, of a lotus flower 97, 112,
114, 130, 141, 156, 225, 245
“lotus-flower matrix” 151
-mark(s) 140, 143
mudgara (mallet) 140
mystic 55, 98, 100, 101, 117, 126, 132,
135, 141, 142, 143, 148, 211, 215,
217, 223, 225, 226, 227, 228, 231,
235, 238, 239, 244, 245, 248, 257
noose 38, 105, 116, 138
offering 228, 229
parasol 139
paṭtiśa (spear) 141
śakti (lance) 115, 140
samaya 99, 215, 248
“samaya of the buddhas” 46
śaṅkha (conch) 102, 112, 114
secret 132, 152, 215, 233
śūla (trident) 76, 116, 141
sword 110, 112, 114, 116, 141, 248
“of the Tathāgata’s abiding state of the
Dharma” 152
vajra 31, 33, 34, 47, 82, 89, 110, 136,
137, 138, 139, 141, 142, 143, 156,
194, 226, 248
vīṇā (lute) 116, 141
wheel 112, 114, 115, 116
wisdom, wisdom-sword 28, 56, 76,
84, 102, 143, 219, 225, 228
wish-granting 104, 234
287
Index
seal(s) (continued)
“World-honored One’s dhāraṇī” 152
“of the World-honored One’s swift
support” 152
seed-syllable(s) xvi, 124, 136, 137, 138,
139, 141, 143, 159, 201, 223, 225,
234, 239, 246, 253, 254, 255, 257
self 8, 12, 15, 74, 79, 80, 148, 156, 166,
167, 199, 201, 205, 210, 213, 215, 251
self-attachment, self-benefit, self-conceit
18, 207, 208
self-discipline (see also vinaya, Vinaya)
206
self-nature 13
self-realized 17, 190
sense field(s) 89
twelve 6, 13, 15, 213
sense object(s) 13, 14
sense organ(s) 14, 56, 211, 249
six 13, 208
sentient beings 4, 8, 11, 24, 48, 75, 160,
173, 205, 208, 213, 230
servant(s) 31, 34, 41, 49, 61, 68, 110,
137, 142, 222
Seven Mothers (see also Mothers) 33,
62, 115, 157
siddhi(s) (see also accomplishment) 16,
44, 63, 70, 71, 72, 77, 78, 82, 83, 86,
87, 89, 90, 94, 104, 127, 133, 135,
136, 140, 151, 155, 156, 169, 193,
197, 205, 209, 210, 224, 229, 230,
233, 236, 237, 239, 240, 243, 247,
249, 254
śīla 23, 72, 155
Śīlendrabodhi xiv
Sitātapatra (see also Sitātapatroṣṇīṣa)
32, 139
Sitātapatroṣṇīṣa (see also Sitātapatra)
66, 114
Śivavajra 138
288
Skanda 9, 33
Smṛtisaṃprajanyin 49
space (see also empty space) 16, 59, 76,
84, 93, 180, 185
śrāvaka(s) 4, 14, 19, 25, 39, 40, 41, 42,
44, 63, 78, 80, 91, 94, 123, 129, 134,
145, 169, 207
vehicle 4, 165, 166
stage(s) 7, 9, 14, 40, 44, 79, 94, 124,
125, 133, 173, 217, 244, 251
of a buddha, Tathāgata(s) 40, 101, 118,
215
eight, eighth 9, 40, 251, 252
ten, tenth 4, 17, 19, 101, 105, 189,
215, 221, 224
Sthiramati 35, 67, 112, 143, 256
Striving Hero(es) (see also Great Striving
Hero) 18, 41, 137, 155, 171, 174,
180, 258
stupa(s) 25, 210, 237
Śubhākarasiṃha xiv, xv. xvi, 1
Śuci 191
Śuddhāvāsa 32, 68, 73, 140
Sugata(s) 52, 206, 224, 230
śūla 76, 140, 141
Sun. See Āditya
supernatural
faculties 4, 7, 42, 81, 85, 86, 95, 133
power(s) 71, 84, 120, 231
transformation(s) 3, 12, 127
Supreme Adamantine Flame 225
Sūrata 138
Sūrya 191
sutra(s) (see also scripture) xiv, xv, xvi,
25, 208, 210, 215, 227, 233, 235, 237,
238, 239, 240, 241, 243, 249
sūtra(s) (cord) 24, 27, 95, 126, 129
Suvajradhara 3, 138
Svaraviśruti 32, 115
svastikāsana 260
 Index

T Tathāgatalocanā. See Buddhalocanā

Tathāgatapadodbhava 3
Ta 43, 163, 180, 181
Tathāgatavarman 3
Ṭa 43, 163, 180, 181
Tattvasiddhi 258
Takṣaka 9
Tejorāśi (see also Tejorāśyuṣṇīṣa) 32, 139
tantra(s) xiii, xiv
Tejorāśyuṣṇīṣa (see also Tejorāśi) 66, 114
Tantric Buddhism (see also Esoteric
tenfold freedom 189, 221
Buddhism) xiii, xv, xvi
ten powers 42, 105, 107, 147, 174, 189,
Tārā 29, 60, 65, 108–109, 137, 222
246
Tathāgata(s) 3, 4, 5, 6, 17, 19, 20, 22, 23,
Tha 43, 163, 180, 181
24, 27, 31, 38, 39, 42, 44, 46, 50, 51,
Ṭha 43, 163, 180, 181
52, 53, 54, 57, 60, 63, 64, 71, 72, 73,
thirty-two attributes of a buddha, great
75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 86, 87, 93, 94, 95,
person, Guiding Teacher (see also
96, 97, 100, 101, 105, 106, 107, 108,
marks, thirty-two, of a buddha) 31,
113, 117, 120, 123, 124, 129, 130, 132,
98, 182, 222
136, 145, 147, 148, 149, 152, 160,
three actions (see also body, speech, and
166, 169, 176, 189–90, 200, 205, 209,
mind) 131, 215, 256
212, 213, 214, 215, 225, 227, 229,
three ages 24, 26, 44, 52, 71, 73, 134,
238, 239, 240, 243, 245, 249, 251, 253
185, 199, 211, 212, 213, 227, 230, 254
body, form 93, 95, 124, 147, 148, 239
three bodies 188, 197, 211, 212, 255
body, speech, and mind, three myster-
Three Buddha-Crowns (see also Buddha
ies 212, 237, 255
Crown) 32, 66
conviction 102, 105
three dharmas 101, 171, 187, 215, 255,
Crown (see also Five Crowns; Tathā-
258
gata-Crown) 32, 96, 103, 114
three equals 53, 215, 249, 261
empowerment 22, 73, 75, 221, 231
three existences (see also realms, three)
eye(s) 53, 105, 123, 165
71, 80
limbs 100, 130, 147, 152
three false attachments 13, 252
merit(s) 42, 214, 243
three faults 134, 256
seal(s) 106–107, 114, 117, 152
Three Jewels (see also Buddha, Dharma,
sphere 60, 63, 96, 107
and Sangha; Three Refuges) 23
stage 101, 118, 215
three loci 133, 256
state 25, 90, 152
three minds 6, 14, 252
supernatural power 120, 231
three mysteries (see also body, speech,
ten powers 42, 107
and mind) 235, 237, 251, 261
tongue 52, 54, 107
three places 125, 138, 193, 259
vow(s) 23, 42, 147, 231
three poisons 219, 222, 249
Tathāgata-Crown(s) (see also Buddha-
three positions 97, 131
Crown) 32, 138, 139
three realms. See realm(s), three
Tathāgatadaśabalasaṃbhava 3
Three Refuges (see also Buddha, Dharma,
Tathāgata Family 131
and Sangha; Three Jewels) 24, 99

289
Index
three samayas 171, 173, 187–88, 258
three situations 241, 260
Tibet xiii, xvi
Tibetan xii, xiv, xv, xvii, 251, 252, 253,
254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261
Trailokyavijaya 22, 26, 31, 63, 65, 97,
114, 129, 138, 223, 248, 252
transmigration (see also birth-and-death;
rebirth) 40, 165, 168, 206, 212
treasury(ies) 4, 59, 80, 91, 106, 123,
143, 207, 212, 231
Two Esoteric Sutras xiii
U Vaiṣṇavī 140
U 163
Ū 163
udāna 126, 145, 149, 250
uḍumbara 24, 36
Umā 116
unguent(s) 20, 22, 24, 45, 46, 49, 50, 53,
55, 70, 75, 130, 149, 194, 199, 219,
223, 227, 228, 229, 237, 240
Upakeśinī 34, 66, 110, 141
Upananda 34, 46, 63, 116, 140
Upanāyika 214
upāya. See expedient(s), expedient
means
Ūrṇā 32, 61, 114, 139, 238
ūrṇā, ūrṇākośa 104, 114, 238, 256
uṣṇīṣa(s) 32, 257
Uttara-tantra xiv
V Vajra(s) 53, 61, 63, 65, 103, 113, 119,
Va 43, 82, 83, 85, 86, 95, 96, 97, 145,
151, 160, 180, 220, 256, 258
Vaḍabāmukha 192
Vahamāna 191
Vaipulya, vaipulya-sūtra xiii, 205, 245
Vairocana (see also Mahāvairocana) xv,
4, 5, 17, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31,
36, 39, 40, 49, 52, 55, 59, 63, 71, 72,
290
79, 80, 81, 84, 86, 93, 94, 95, 96, 98,
101, 119, 121, 123, 124, 125, 138,
145, 151, 155, 165, 171, 173, 175,
189, 199, 205, 221, 222, 237, 238,
245, 252, 255
Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi-sūtra xiii–xvi,
259
Chinese translation xiii, xiv, xvi
commentary(ies) on xiii, xiv–xv, xvi
Sanskrit text, title of xiii
Tibetan translation xiii, xiv, xvi
Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi-tantra (see also
Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi-sūtra) xiv
Vaiśravaṇa 5, 9
Vaiśvānara 191
vajra(s) 28, 30, 31, 53, 61, 76, 80, 82, 93,
97, 98, 103, 104, 112, 113, 114, 136,
138, 139, 140, 143, 152, 199, 212,
220, 234, 236, 239, 245, 253, 255
action-, karma- 136, 143, 246, 247, 260
-banner 152
circle, maṇḍala 81, 124, 141, 220,
238, 255, 256, 257
crossed 136, 257
double-headed 142
five-pronged 112, 143
seal(s) 31, 33, 34, 47, 89, 110, 136,
137, 138, 139, 141, 142, 143, 156,
194, 226, 248
single-pronged 142
three-pronged 111, 142
120, 138, 160, 217, 223, 246, 248
Vajra-Action. See Karma-Vajrasattva
Vajrabodhi xv, 260, 261
Vajracakra 138
Vajracandratilaka. See Krodhacandratilaka
Vajradaṃṣṭra 138
vajradhara(s) 3, 4, 5, 7, 14, 17, 20, 22,
26, 31, 36, 40, 41, 44, 49, 50, 51, 52,

59, 61, 69, 71, 72, 78, 79, 80, 84, 89,
93, 94, 97, 101, 119, 124, 126, 138,
148, 151, 159, 165, 166, 168, 169,
173, 175, 179, 187, 189, 194, 197,
199, 204, 251
Vajradhara (see also Vajrapāṇi) 30, 39,
40, 78, 89, 93, 95, 97, 100, 112, 127,
155, 157, 160, 216, 222, 225, 229, 230
Vajra Family 137
Vajragarbha (see also Vajrapāṇi) 30
Vajrāgra 3, 138
Vajramuṣṭi 113
Vajrāṅkuśī 137
Vajrapadma 138
Vajrapāṇi (see also Lord of Mysteries;
Vajrasattva) xv, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 14, 17,
20, 22, 23, 30, 36, 39, 41, 44, 51, 52,
55, 57, 60, 65, 71, 76, 78, 79, 80, 93,
100, 101, 112, 124, 125, 127, 131,
135, 149, 155, 159, 160, 163, 165,
166, 171, 175, 177, 187, 189, 194,
197, 251, 259
Vajrāparājita 98
Vajrasattva (see also Karma-Vajrasattva;
Vajrapāṇi) 24, 26, 46, 53, 95, 216,
222, 225, 226, 243, 244
Vajraśṛṅkhalā 30, 61, 113, 137
Vajrasūcī 30, 61, 113, 137
Vaṃ 83, 238, 246, 260
Varadavajra (see also Mañjuśrī) 34, 96,
98, 141
Varuṇa 33, 62, 141, 160
Vasiṣṭha 140
Vāsuki 9
Vasumatī 34, 66, 110, 141
Vāyu 27, 31, 33, 55, 62, 97, 116, 141
Vedas 9, 140, 192
vehicle(s) (see also Broad Vehicle; Great
Vehicle; Mantra Vehicle) 13, 26, 43,
181, 207
pratyekabuddha 4
Index
śrāvaka 4, 165, 166
three 18, 188
Vicitracārin 3
Vicitrāmbara 49
Vicitrāmbaradhara 3, 49
vidyā(s) 52, 96, 155, 157, 206, 209, 211,
224, 228, 229, 234, 239, 240, 244,
246, 260
“Born from the Excellent Mind” 73
“Delighting and Satisfying the Mind”
72
“Entry into the Buddhas’ Samaya” 53,
215
hundred-lettered 236
“Proceeding from the Treasury of
Empty Space” 231
“Unendurable Great Protection” 217
“Very Powerful Protection” 52
vidyādhara(s) 16, 33, 91, 149, 157, 222,
253
vidyādhararāja 253, 256, 257
vidyārāja(s) 29, 128, 137, 256
vidyārājñī(s) 29, 32, 63, 93, 96, 101, 137
“Equal to Empty Space in Power” 75
“Power Unimpeded throughout All
Three Ages” 93
“Proceeding from the Treasury of
Empty Space” 75, 221
“Universally Inviolable Strength” 96
“Very Powerful Great Protection” 52
view(s) 8
innate, of the reality of the body 102
right 7, 168
twenty-nine erroneous, of the self 251
wrong 7, 102, 165, 167, 168, 169
Vijayā 33, 116, 141
Vijayoṣṇīṣa 32, 66, 114, 139
Vikhyāta 138
Vikiraṇoṣṇīṣa 32, 66, 114, 139
Vimalanetra 3, 49
Vimalaprabha 109, 141
291
Index

Vimalavajra 3 worldling(s) (see also ordinary beings,

Vimukta 49 people, person) 5, 15, 40, 41, 77,
vinaya, Vinaya 72, 167, 169, 206 166, 199
vināyaka(s) 52, 217 worldly 48, 73, 128
Virūpākṣa 9 world-saving 203
Viśālanetra 138 bodhisattvas 41, 80, 91, 145, 244
Viṣṇu 33, 62, 140, 160 buddhas 28, 99
visualization(s) xvi, 69, 181, 222, 234, pratyekabuddhas 123
239, 245, 254 World-supporter 259
Viśuddhamati 35, 67, 112, 143 world-system(s) 73, 77, 123, 124, 127,
Viśvakarmā 9 148, 173, 175, 213, 221
Viveci 192 Wrathful 192, 193
Vivici (see also Viveci) 259 Wuxing xiv
vow(s) 24, 32, 49, 50, 60, 61, 76, 109,
110, 111, 147, 153, 205, 224, 230, Y
231, 243, 244, 252, 255 Ya 43, 163, 180, 181
of compassion 23, 125, 244 yakṣa(s) 4, 6, 64, 68, 97, 99, 101, 117
excellent 25, 44, 205, 252, 256 yakṣiṇīs 68, 117
original 123, 135 Yama 9, 33, 62, 97, 98, 115, 140, 160
of practice 23, 173 Yamī 9, 115, 140
yāna. See vehicle
W Yaśodharā 29, 66
Wind-parched Fire 195 Yixing xiv–xv, xvi, 1
world(s) 13, 14, 25, 36, 39, 40, 41, 42, yoga(s) 8, 18, 75, 85, 128, 152, 157,
45, 50, 64, 71, 79, 80, 84, 85, 102, 201, 235, 239, 240, 249, 255
121, 123, 128, 129, 130, 134, 135, deity 233, 238, 246
148, 156, 164, 165, 179, 180, 203, nondual 94, 95
206, 207, 221, 230, 245, 252, 254 posture 104, 149, 160, 233
of Brahmā. See Brahmaloka seat 81, 238
-savior(s), savior(s) of 14, 18, 19, 22, Yoga Tantras xiii, 234
28, 32, 36, 42, 46, 50, 85, 94, 102, yogin 13, 82, 83, 85, 180, 193, 222
103, 104, 105, 125, 130, 171, 175, yoginī 152
176, 179, 183, 185, 214, 216, 224 Yojaka 191
support(s), support of 94, 102, 104, 105 Yugānta 192
three 30

292
 BDK English Tripiṭaka
(First Series)

Abbreviations
Ch.: Chinese
Skt.: Sanskrit
Jp.: Japanese
Eng.: Published title

Title Taishō No.

Ch. Changahanjing (長阿含經) 1
Skt. Dīrghāgama
Ch. Zhongahanjing (中阿含經) 26
Skt. Madhyamāgama
Ch. Dachengbenshengxindiguanjing (大乘本生心地觀經) 159
Ch. Fosuoxingzan (佛所行讃) 192
Skt. Buddhacarita
Ch. Zabaocangjing (雜寶藏經) 203
Eng. The Storehouse of Sundry Valuables
Ch. Fajupiyujing (法句譬喩經) 211
Eng. The Scriptural Text: Verses of the Doctrine, with Parables (1999)
Ch. Xiaopinbanruoboluomijing (小品般若波羅蜜經) 227
Skt. Aṣṭasāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā-sūtra
Ch. Jingangbanruoboluomijing (金剛般若波羅蜜經) 235
Skt. Vajracchedikā-prajñāpāramitā-sūtra
Ch. Daluojingangbukongzhenshisanmoyejing 243
(大樂金剛不空眞實三麼耶經)
Skt. Adhyardhaśatikā-prajñāpāramitā-sūtra
Ch. Renwangbanruoboluomijing (仁王般若波羅蜜經) 245
Skt. Kāruṇikārājā-prajñāpāramitā-sūtra (?)

293
BDK English Tripiṭaka

Title Taishō No.

Ch. Banruoboluomiduoxingjing (般若波羅蜜多心經) 251
Skt. Prajñāpāramitāhṛdaya-sūtra
Ch. Miaofalianhuajing (妙法蓮華經) 262
Skt. Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra
Eng. The Lotus Sutra (Revised Second Edition, 2007)
Ch. Wuliangyijing (無量義經) 276
Ch. Guanpuxianpusaxingfajing (觀普賢菩薩行法經) 277
Ch. Dafangguangfohuayanjing (大方廣佛華嚴經) 278
Skt. Avataṃsaka-sūtra
Ch. Shengmanshizihouyichengdafangbianfangguangjing 353
(勝鬘師子吼一乘大方便方廣經)
Skt. Śrīmālādevīsiṃhanāda-sūtra
Eng. The Sutra of Queen Śrīmālā of the Lion’s Roar (2004)
Ch. Wuliangshoujing (無量壽經) 360
Skt. Sukhāvatīvyūha
Eng. The Larger Sutra on Amitāyus (in The Three Pure Land Sutras,
Revised Second Edition, 2003)
Ch. Guanwuliangshoufojing (觀無量壽佛經) 365
Skt. Amitāyurdhyāna-sūtra
Eng. The Sutra on Contemplation of Amitāyus
(in The Three Pure Land Sutras, Revised Second Edition, 2003)
Ch. Amituojing (阿彌陀經) 366
Skt. Sukhāvatīvyūha
Eng. The Smaller Sutra on Amitāyus (in The Three Pure Land Sutras,
Revised Second Edition, 2003)
Ch. Dabanniepanjing (大般涅槃經) 374
Skt. Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra
Ch. Fochuiboniepanlüeshuojiaojiejing (佛垂般涅槃略説教誡經) 389
Eng. The Bequeathed Teaching Sutra (in Apocryphal Scriptures, 2005)
Ch. Dicangpusabenyuanjing (地藏菩薩本願經) 412
Skt. Kṣitigarbhapraṇidhāna-sūtra (?)
Ch. Banzhousanmeijing (般舟三昧經) 418
Skt. Pratyutpannabuddhasammukhāvasthitasamādhi-sūtra
Eng. The Pratyutpanna Samādhi Sutra (1998)

294
 BDK English Tripiṭaka

Title Taishō No.

Ch. Yaoshiliuliguangrulaibenyuangongdejing 450
(藥師琉璃光如來本願功徳經)
Skt. Bhaiṣajyaguruvaiḍūryaprabhāsapūrvapraṇidhānaviśeṣavistara
Ch. Milexiashengchengfojing (彌勒下生成佛經) 454
Skt. Maitreyavyākaraṇa (?)
Ch. Wenshushiliwenjing (文殊師利問經) 468
Skt. Mañjuśrīparipṛcchā (?)
Ch. Weimojiesuoshuojing (維摩詰所説經) 475
Skt. Vimalakīrtinirdeśa-sūtra
Eng. The Vimalakīrti Sutra (2004)
Ch. Yueshangnüjing (月上女經) 480
Skt. Candrottarādārikāparipṛcchā
Ch. Zuochansanmeijing (坐禪三昧經) 614
Ch. Damoduoluochanjing (達磨多羅禪經) 618
Ch. Yuedengsanmeijing (月燈三昧經) 639
Skt. Samādhirājacandrapradīpa-sūtra
Ch. Shoulengyansanmeijing (首楞嚴三昧經) 642
Skt. Śūraṅgamasamādhi-sūtra
Eng. The Śūraṅgama Samādhi Sutra (1998)
Ch. Jinguangmingzuishengwangjing (金光明最勝王經) 665
Skt. Suvarṇaprabhāsa-sūtra
Ch. Rulengqiejing (入楞伽經) 671
Skt. Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra
Ch. Jieshenmijing (解深密經) 676
Skt. Saṃdhinirmocana-sūtra
Eng. The Scripture on the Explication of Underlying Meaning (2000)
Ch. Yulanpenjing (盂蘭盆經) 685
Skt. Ullambana-sūtra (?)
Eng. The Ullambana Sutra (in Apocryphal Scriptures, 2005)
Ch. Sishierzhangjing (四十二章經) 784
Eng. The Sutra of Forty-two Sections (in Apocryphal Scriptures, 2005)
Ch. Dafangguangyuanjuexiuduoluoliaoyijing (大方廣圓覺修多羅了義經) 842
Eng. The Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment (in Apocryphal Scriptures, 2005)

295
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Title Taishō No.

Ch. Dabiluzhenachengfoshenbianjiachijing 848
(大毘盧遮那成佛神變加持經)
Skt. Mahāvairocanābhisambodhivikurvitādhiṣṭhānavaipulyasūtrendra-
rājanāmadharmaparyāya
Eng. The Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sutra (2005)
Ch. Jinggangdingyiqierulaizhenshishedachengxianzhengdajiao-
wangjing (金剛頂一切如來眞實攝大乘現證大教王經) 865
Skt. Sarvatathāgatatattvasaṃgrahamahāyānābhisamayamahākalparāja
Eng. The Adamantine Pinnacle Sutra (in Two Esoteric Sutras, 2001)
Ch. Suxidijieluojing (蘇悉地羯囉經) 893
Skt. Susiddhikaramahātantrasādhanopāyika-paṭala
Eng. The Susiddhikara Sutra (in Two Esoteric Sutras, 2001)
Ch. Modengqiejing (摩登伽經) 1300
Skt. Mātaṅgī-sūtra (?)
Ch. Mohesengqilü (摩訶僧祇律) 1425
Skt. Mahāsāṃghika-vinaya (?)
Ch. Sifenlü (四分律) 1428
Skt. Dharmaguptaka-vinaya (?)
Ch. Shanjianlüpiposha (善見律毘婆沙) 1462
Pāli Samantapāsādikā
Ch. Fanwangjing (梵網經) 1484
Skt. Brahmajāla-sūtra (?)
Ch. Youposaijiejing (優婆塞戒經) 1488
Skt. Upāsakaśīla-sūtra (?)
Eng. The Sutra on Upāsaka Precepts (1994)
Ch. Miaofalianhuajingyoubotishe (妙法蓮華經憂波提舍) 1519
Skt. Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-upadeśa
Ch. Shih-chu-pi-p‘o-sha-lun (十住毘婆沙論) 1521
Skt. Daśabhūmika-vibhāṣā (?)
Ch. Fodijinglun (佛地經論) 1530
Skt. Buddhabhūmisūtra-śāstra (?)
Eng. The Interpretation of the Buddha Land (2002)
Ch. Apidamojushelun (阿毘達磨倶舍論) 1558
Skt. Abhidharmakośa-bhāṣya

296
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Title Taishō No.

Ch. Zhonglun (中論) 1564
Skt. Madhyamaka-śāstra
Ch. Yüqieshidilun (瑜伽師地論) 1579
Skt. Yogācārabhūmi
Ch. Chengweishilun (成唯識論) 1585
Eng. Demonstration of Consciousness Only
(in Three Texts on Consciousness Only, 1999)
Ch. Weishisanshilunsong (唯識三十論頌) 1586
Skt. Triṃśikā
Eng. The Thirty Verses on Consciousness Only
(in Three Texts on Consciousness Only, 1999)
Ch. Weishihershilun (唯識二十論) 1590
Skt. Viṃśatikā
Eng. The Treatise in Twenty Verses on Consciousness Only
(in Three Texts on Consciousness Only, 1999)
Ch. Shedachenglun (攝大乘論) 1593
Skt. Mahāyānasaṃgraha
Eng. The Summary of the Great Vehicle (Revised Second Edition, 2003)
Ch. Bianzhongbianlun (辯中邊論) 1600
Skt. Madhyāntavibhāga
Ch. Dachengzhuangyanjinglun (大乘莊嚴經論) 1604
Skt. Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkāra
Ch. Dachengchengyelun (大乘成業論) 1609
Skt. Karmasiddhiprakaraṇa
Ch. Jiujingyichengbaoxinglun (究竟一乘寳性論) 1611
Skt. Ratnagotravibhāgamahāyānottaratantra-śāstra
Ch. Yinmingruzhenglilun (因明入正理論) 1630
Skt. Nyāyapraveśa
Ch. Dachengjipusaxuelun (大乘集菩薩學論) 1636
Skt. Śikṣāsamuccaya
Ch. Jingangzhenlun (金剛針論) 1642
Skt. Vajrasūcī
Ch. Zhangsuozhilun (彰所知論) 1645
Eng. The Treatise on the Elucidation of the Knowable (2004)

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Title Taishō No.

Ch. Putixingjing (菩提行經) 1662
Skt. Bodhicaryāvatāra
Ch. Jingangdingyuqiezhongfaanouduoluosanmiaosanputixinlun 1665
(金剛頂瑜伽中發阿耨多羅三藐三菩提心論)
Ch. Dachengqixinlun (大乘起信論) 1666
Skt. Mahāyānaśraddhotpāda-śāstra (?)
Eng. The Awakening of Faith (2005)
Ch. Shimoheyanlun (釋摩訶衍論) 1668
Ch. Naxianbiqiujing (那先比丘經) 1670
Pāli Milindapañhā
Ch. Banruoboluomiduoxinjingyuzan (般若波羅蜜多心經幽賛) 1710
Eng. A Comprehensive Commentary on the Heart Sutra
(Prajñāpāramitā-hṛdaya-sūtra) (2001)
Ch. Miaofalianhuajingxuanyi (妙法蓮華經玄義) 1716
Ch. Guanwuliangshoufojingshu (觀無量壽佛經疏) 1753
Ch. Sanlunxuanyi (三論玄義) 1852
Ch. Dachengxuanlun (大乘玄論) 1853
Ch. Zhaolun (肇論) 1858
Ch. Huayanyichengjiaoyifenqizhang (華嚴一乘教義分齊章) 1866
Ch. Yuanrenlun (原人論) 1886
Ch. Mohezhiguan (摩訶止觀) 1911
Ch. Xiuxizhiguanzuochanfayao (修習止觀坐禪法要) 1915
Ch. Tiantaisijiaoyi (天台四教儀) 1931
Ch. Guoqingbailu (國清百録) 1934
Ch. Zhenzhoulinjihuizhaochanshiwulu (鎭州臨濟慧照禪師語録) 1985
Eng. The Recorded Sayings of Linji (in Three Chan Classics, 1999)
Ch. Foguoyuanwuchanshibiyanlu (佛果圜悟禪師碧巖録) 2003
Eng. The Blue Cliff Record (1998)
Ch. Wumenguan (無門關) 2005
Eng. Wumen’s Gate (in Three Chan Classics, 1999)

298
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Title Taishō No.

Ch. Liuzudashifabaotanjing (六祖大師法寶壇經) 2008
Eng. The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch (2000)
Ch. Xinxinming (信心銘) 2010
Eng. The Faith-Mind Maxim (in Three Chan Classics, 1999)
Ch. Huangboshanduanjichanshichuanxinfayao 2012A
(黄檗山斷際禪師傳心法要)
Eng. Essentials of the Transmission of Mind (in Zen Texts, 2005)
Ch. Yongjiazhengdaoge (永嘉證道歌) 2014
Ch. Chixiubaizhangqinggui (勅修百丈清規) 2025
Ch. Yibuzonglunlun (異部宗輪論) 2031
Skt. Samayabhedoparacanacakra
Eng. The Cycle of the Formation of the Schismatic Doctrines (2004)
Ch. Ayuwangjing (阿育王經) 2043
Skt. Aśokāvadāna
Eng. The Biographical Scripture of King Aśoka (1993)
Ch. Mamingpusachuan (馬鳴菩薩傳) 2046
Eng. The Life of Aśvaghoṣa Bodhisattva
(in Lives of Great Monks and Nuns, 2002)
Ch. Longshupusachuan (龍樹菩薩傳) 2047
Eng. The Life of Nāgārjuna Bodhisattva
(in Lives of Great Monks and Nuns, 2002)
Ch. Posoupandoufashichuan (婆藪槃豆法師傳) 2049
Eng. Biography of Dharma Master Vasubandhu
(in Lives of Great Monks and Nuns, 2002)
Ch. Datangdaciensisancangfashichuan (大唐大慈恩寺三藏法師傳) 2053
Eng. A Biography of the Tripiṭaka Master of the Great Ci’en
Monastery of the Great Tang Dynasty (1995)
Ch. Gaosengchuan (高僧傳) 2059
Ch. Biqiunichuan (比丘尼傳) 2063
Eng. Biographies of Buddhist Nuns
(in Lives of Great Monks and Nuns, 2002)
Ch. Gaosengfaxianchuan (高僧法顯傳) 2085
Eng. The Journey of the Eminent Monk Faxian
(in Lives of Great Monks and Nuns, 2002)

299
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Title Taishō No.

Ch. Datangxiyuji (大唐西域記) 2087
Eng. The Great Tang Dynasty Record of the Western Regions (1996)
Ch. Youfangjichao: Tangdaheshangdongzhengchuan 2089-(7)
(遊方記抄: 唐大和上東征傳)
Ch. Hongmingji (弘明集) 2102
Ch. Fayuanzhulin (法苑珠林) 2122
Ch. Nanhaijiguineifachuan (南海寄歸内法傳) 2125
Eng. Buddhist Monastic Traditions of Southern Asia (2000)
Ch. Fanyuzaming (梵語雑名) 2135
Jp. Shōmangyōgisho (勝鬘經義疏) 2185
Jp. Yuimakyōgisho (維摩經義疏) 2186
Jp. Hokkegisho (法華義疏) 2187
Jp. Hannyashingyōhiken (般若心經秘鍵) 2203
Jp. Daijōhossōkenjinshō (大乘法相研神章) 2309
Jp. Kan-jin-kaku-mu-shō (觀心覺夢鈔) 2312
Jp. Risshūkōyō (律宗綱要) 2348
Eng. The Essentials of the Vinaya Tradition (1995)
Jp. Tendaihokkeshūgishū (天台法華宗義集) 2366
Eng. The Collected Teachings of the Tendai Lotus School (1995)
Jp. Kenkairon (顯戒論) 2376
Jp. Sangegakushōshiki (山家學生式) 2377
Jp. Hizōhōyaku (秘藏寶鑰) 2426
Eng. The Precious Key to the Secret Treasury (in Shingon Texts, 2004)
Jp. Benkenmitsunikyōron (辨顯密二教論) 2427
Eng. On the Differences between the Exoteric and Esoteric Teachings
(in Shingon Texts, 2004)
Jp. Sokushinjōbutsugi (即身成佛義) 2428
Eng. The Meaning of Becoming a Buddha in This Very Body
(in Shingon Texts, 2004)

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Title Taishō No.

Jp. Shōjijissōgi (聲字實相義) 2429
Eng. The Meanings of Sound, Sign, and Reality (in Shingon Texts, 2004)
Jp. Unjigi (吽字義) 2430
Eng. The Meanings of the Word Hūṃ (in Shingon Texts, 2004)
Jp. Gorinkujimyōhimitsushaku (五輪九字明秘密釋) 2514
Eng. The Illuminating Secret Commentary on the Five Cakras
and the Nine Syllables (in Shingon Texts, 2004)
Jp. Mitsugoninhotsurosangemon (密嚴院發露懺悔文) 2527
Eng. The Mitsugonin Confession (in Shingon Texts, 2004)
Jp. Kōzengokokuron (興禪護國論) 2543
Eng. A Treatise on Letting Zen Flourish to Protect the State
(in Zen Texts. 2005)
Jp. Fukanzazengi (普勧坐禪儀) 2580
Eng. A Universal Recommendation for True Zazen (in Zen Texts, 2005)
Jp. Shōbōgenzō (正法眼藏) 2582
Jp. Zazenyōjinki (坐禪用心記) 2586
Eng. Advice on the Practice of Zazen (in Zen Texts, 2005)
Jp. Senchakuhongannenbutsushū (選擇本願念佛集) 2608
Eng. Senchaku Hongan Nembutsu Shū: A Collection of Passages
on the Nembutsu Chosen in the Original Vow (1997)
Jp. Kenjōdoshinjitsukyōgyōshōmonrui (顯淨土眞實教行証文類) 2646
Eng. Kyōgyōshinshō: On Teaching, Practice, Faith,
and Enlightenment (2003)
Jp. Tannishō (歎異抄) 2661
Eng. Tannishō: Passages Deploring Deviations of Faith (1996)
Jp. Rennyoshōninofumi (蓮如上人御文) 2668
Eng. Rennyo Shōnin Ofumi: The Letters of Rennyo (1996)
Jp. Ōjōyōshū (往生要集) 2682
Jp. Risshōankokuron (立正安國論) 2688
Eng. Risshōankokuron or The Treatise on the Establishment of the
Orthodox Teaching and the Peace of the Nation
(in Two Nichiren Texts, 2003)

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Title Taishō No.

Jp. Kaimokushō (開目抄) 2689
Eng. Kaimokushō or Liberation from Blindness (2000)
Jp. Kanjinhonzonshō (觀心本尊抄) 2692
Eng. Kanjinhonzonshō or The Most Venerable One Revealed by
Introspecting Our Minds for the First Time at the Beginning
of the Fifth of the Five Five Hundred-year Ages
(in Two Nichiren Texts, 2003)
Ch. Fumuenzhongjing (父母恩重經) 2887
Eng. The Sutra on the Profundity of Filial Love
(in Apocryphal Scriptures, 2005)
Jp. Hasshūkōyō (八宗綱要) extracanonical
Eng. The Essentials of the Eight Traditions (1994)
Jp. Sangōshīki (三教指帰) extracanonical
Jp. Mappōtōmyōki (末法燈明記) extracanonical
Eng. The Candle of the Latter Dharma
Jp. Jūshichijōkenpō (十七條憲法) extracanonical

302